The city is behind on its trash pickup as more than half of its trucks are awaiting repair. That alongside, a city-wide shortage of mechanics is leaving residents like Isaac Williams frustrated.
“I run out of places to put my trash because if it’s not picked up, now I’m still creating trash from my house. I run out of space in my trash can, so where do I put it," William said.
He and his neighbors in the northeast part of Syracuse are tired of waiting and are planning how they can tackle the problem on their own.
“We would like to do a clean-up in the Lincoln Hill and Eastwood area depending on how much support we get; we could really make an impact," William said.
At the same time, the city is working on a long-term fix. Chief Operating Officer Corey Driscoll Dunham said her office is assessing possible solutions that can be proposed to the Syracuse Common Council, and that may include privatizing track pick-up.
“What we really need to do is have a conversation with the council and the public about whether or not that is a direction we want to go into. Because also with privatization there is a little bit of loss of control and how that is going to impact our workforce,” Dunham expressed.
Dunham's office presented a new evaluation plan to the city’s council last week. Meanwhile, Williams said residents in his neighborhood are working on their plan.
“We don’t want this looking like this through April and May. It would be a real help we think coming from the community.”
Williams and his neighbors are now meeting every Friday to discuss a spring clean-up.