FAST FACTS:
april.thompson@wreg.com
(Memphis 7/15/2009) It's a pile that used to be in the Martin's garage.
But last month's storms left the items rain soaked, so they were put on the curb for trash pick up back in June.
"They said, they kept saying we gonna pick it up. It's another truck behind us another truck behind us," says homeowner Bernice Martin.
But week after week the trash sat, leaving neighbors frustrated.
"There could be rats or anything that gets in there and harvests as long as it's been. I mean it's been close to a month," says one neighbor.
"A little child she was out there digging, saw some toys and cut her finger on some kind of tin out there," says Martin.
Andy Ashford with the city's Solid Waste Management Department says the trash should have been picked up long ago, but the last month has been anything but normal.
"With the recent storm, it's compounded our collections and it's not a matter of being behind. We are trying to pick up as fast as we can. But there are some delays," says Ashford.
Special bob trucks that are needed to pick up debris at homes, have been used instead to pick up storm debris.
But now that most of the storm pick-up is complete, the focus can return to household trash collections.
"We paying our taxes, struggling and we are older. And I have to pay people to help me get my garbage," says Martin.
"Most other neighborhoods I don't think they would allow this to be going on this long," says a neighbor.
Officials say Memphis just changed all garbage pick up days and contracted out some pick-up, so that has caused some problems.
Directors say it's been an adjustment and they have had plenty of complaints.
Meanwhile, the Martins have been told their trash will be picked up on Friday.
They are wating to see.
- Westwood family says trash hasn't been collected for almost a month, city won't pick up
- City officials looking into case, say delays caused by storm debris
- City getting plenty of calls about garbage pick-up problems
april.thompson@wreg.com
(Memphis 7/15/2009) It's a pile that used to be in the Martin's garage.
But last month's storms left the items rain soaked, so they were put on the curb for trash pick up back in June.
"They said, they kept saying we gonna pick it up. It's another truck behind us another truck behind us," says homeowner Bernice Martin.
But week after week the trash sat, leaving neighbors frustrated.
"There could be rats or anything that gets in there and harvests as long as it's been. I mean it's been close to a month," says one neighbor.
"A little child she was out there digging, saw some toys and cut her finger on some kind of tin out there," says Martin.
Andy Ashford with the city's Solid Waste Management Department says the trash should have been picked up long ago, but the last month has been anything but normal.
"With the recent storm, it's compounded our collections and it's not a matter of being behind. We are trying to pick up as fast as we can. But there are some delays," says Ashford.
Special bob trucks that are needed to pick up debris at homes, have been used instead to pick up storm debris.
But now that most of the storm pick-up is complete, the focus can return to household trash collections.
"We paying our taxes, struggling and we are older. And I have to pay people to help me get my garbage," says Martin.
"Most other neighborhoods I don't think they would allow this to be going on this long," says a neighbor.
Officials say Memphis just changed all garbage pick up days and contracted out some pick-up, so that has caused some problems.
Directors say it's been an adjustment and they have had plenty of complaints.
Meanwhile, the Martins have been told their trash will be picked up on Friday.
They are wating to see.
