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Let’s talk trash. Although it isn’t the most glamorous topic, trash collection - or what we in city government call Solid Waste - is one of the oldest and most important city services.
Trash collection is a public health service first and foremost, without regular trash collection and disposal, our community would quickly be at risk of disease and disrepair. It is as important to creating a safe, healthy, thriving city as police or fire services. It is essential and important, and the 515 men and women who work in our Solid Waste Division are on the frontlines of creating a better Memphis - a safer, cleaner, and more attractive Memphis - every day.
Our current program includes 72 weekly routes for garbage, 36 for recycling, and 36 for bulk waste. We pick up from 36,000 homes per day, five days per week. While our standard garbage and recycling collections have remained relatively constant over the last years, our bulk waste volume has grown—from 52,000 tons per year in 2017 to 179,000 tons per year in 2022.
The efforts to keep up with these changes aren’t like many of our city services, which can happen in an unscheduled fashion. Trash service isn’t like fixing potholes or repairing other city infrastructure. Garbage, recycling, and bulk waste pickup is a choreographed production implemented in partnership with the residents of our community. You know to bring your bins to the curb on a certain day, and we know to collect. So when something creates a kink in that system, the whole dance is disrupted. One hiccup or holiday can cause a cascading event where Monday’s collections move to Tuesday and Tuesday’s to Wednesday, and so forth.
Creating redundancies in the system, balancing the routes, and creating holiday schedules are all key to keeping the system as nimble and agile as possible. And that means hiring the right number of people and implementing the best systems to create the staffing and operational levels needed to fulfill our obligations to residents.
Our team utilizes 450 service vehicles with the standard challenges of an aging fleet - 47% of this fleet was purchased prior to 2012. As we look to update our fleet, the reality of inflation is this: in 2014, a garbage truck cost $141,000, and in 2023, the same truck cost $291,000.
Although it may not be obvious to long-term Memphians, the city provides concierge-level service for trash, recycling, and bulk pick-up. The standard in most cities is that the municipality does not collect anything that is outside of the bin. Currently, in Memphis, we collect up to two bags of materials that are left outside of the bin each week, and we collect bulk items up to two times per month. This service level is far above the industry standard, and we are planning to increase our collection capacity.
We are running a strong operation. Our goals are clear.
Some of our guiding priorities for the division are the continued safety and security of our employees and property; adding employees to better manage waste and rebalance routes; raising employee wages up to match their skill and market value; establishing 10-year replacement cycle for fleet; establishing a Strike Team to fight blight; and establishing convenience centers to promote a cleaner city. And if we want more for our community, we need additional people, vehicles, and technology.
And that is why when we took our took our proposed Solid Waste Division budget before council this week, we asked for a fee increase of $6.89 increase per month - or $82.68 annual increase - per household to help us continue and enhance the services that are necessary to create the Memphis every neighborhood and neighbor deserves.
The increase in fees will allow us to hire 133 people, add 24 crews, an enforcement team, and a dedicated strike team, and update our fleet.
If approved, you will see this increase on your MLGW bill, but it is not an MLGW fee. And while we know that every fee needs to be carefully considered, we hope that you will see the value added. I am thankful for this division's hard work, exceptional service, and the leadership of division director Philip Davis. I also appreciate the creativity and engagement of our city council on this issue.
Ultimately, I wanted you, the residents of our city, to understand our ask and the implications for the future of our city.
Our Strike Team worked in the following zip codes this week: 38106, 38107, 38109, 38114, 38118!!
Social Shout-outs and Community Events:
Are you ready to Explore Memphis? The adventure begins at Memphis Public Libraries on June 1! Grab a map from your local branch  Check out some books  Get ready to have fun  Hopefully, win prizes 
Learn more here.
The Memphis Public Libraries are full of FREE activities this May!
Join us as we celebrate the Levi community!  The Levi Community Fest is on May 11. The FREE event includes family fun, food, outdoor games, arts and crafts, live entertainment, door prizes, and more! 
It looks like a beautiful weekend, so spend your Saturday afternoon with us!
Weekly round-up
 Weekly Round-Up: Honoring Heroes, Celebrating Milestones, and Building Community Connections!
Expanding Care: Le Bonheur Children's Hospital.  
Recognizing Service: Mayor Young and Chief CJ Davis  
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