By Hannah Caver, for the Tribune,
SPRINGVILLE — Springville residents are concerned with the lack of trash pick-up that has been a ‘stink’ of an issue in the town for several months.
In July, Springville City Council held a meeting to open bids for garbage pick up, but many of the same issues experienced then are still ongoing.
Some residents are still experiencing a two to three weeks wait before their trash is picked up due to Waste Management’s reported employee shortage.
According to the City of Springville Facebook page posted earlier this month, “Due to unforeseen circumstances, Waste Management has been delayed in their normal garbage pickup. They will be working through the weekend to catch up on the cans that were missed. If your trash can was not picked up, leave your can out as they attempt to catch up.”
Rusty Pitts, a Springville resident, expressed his concerns regarding the build-up of trash. Pitts knows that Waste Management is struggling with staffing issues but says it’s getting out of control.
Pitts explained how he reached out to Waste Management for information but was told to contact local officials in return. He said he was annoyed when he was placed on hold before the line was disconnected.
“I was placed on hold for over 40 min, in which I requested to be transferred to the local management, to discuss with them, so, they transferred the call to someone, but I was disconnected, or just hung up on,” Pitts said.
Springville officials who have heard the concerns from residents and/or are experiencing the problem with their trash have supplied another option to clear the trash.
“While the City of Springville is navigating the issues with trash pickup, to assist with the issue, we have placed a dumpster in front of City Hall,” the City of Springville administration stated via a press release. “If you have been missed by the garbage pickup, you are welcome to use the dumpster until this issue is resolved.”
Pitts said one dumpster was not enough because the dumpster was full by noon after the press release was posted. In hopes of handling the overflow of trash, Pitts explained many residents had purchased additional trash cans from stores, but that can only go so far.
Pitts added that residents who have purchased extra trash cans are being charged extra for the additional cans to be picked up.
Residents want the trash overflow to be handled appropriately. Pitts said residents continue to pay for their trash to be picked up, but they are still waiting.
“We are continuing to pay our trash collection to the city, yet we aren’t being served by their own contract,” Pitts said.
According to Pitts, many residents have come together to share trash cans. He explained how smaller families with space in their cans would allow larger families with more trash to put the extra trash in their trash cans to help alleviate the stress.
“Waste Management loves to say that they are the nation’s No. 1 garbage company, but honestly, I don’t care who is number one, as long as they are reliable,” Pitts said.