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DALLAS - The City of Dallas is experiencing a laborer shortage within the Department of Sanitation Services, resulting in intermittent service delays for customers. Sanitation has adjusted operations to prioritize on-time garbage collection for customers. This means all available staff are assigned to garbage collection routes first. Blue roll cart collection of recyclable materials may be delayed by 1-2 days in various areas of the city, on a rotating basis, over the next several weeks, until staffing levels stabilize. It is not necessary for customers to report missed recycling collection to 311 unless materials have not been collected after more than 48 hours. Areas primarily serviced by automated truck routes will be less affected by this disruption.
“Sanitation crews are working hard to ensure that delayed routes are serviced within 24 hours, including working evenings and weekends,” said Tim Oliver, Interim Director of Sanitation Services. “Customers should continue to set their garbage and recycling roll carts out on their regular collection day, but expect recycling collection delays as the Department works with its temporary industrial laborer staffing agency to fill vacant positions.”
Sanitation continues to work through adjustments related to the COVID-19 pandemic, including increased tonnages and decreased staff. This includes proposed pay increases for truck drivers, equipment operators, and laborers, to bring those rates of pay in line with current market rates.
Labor shortages are affecting many sectors across the United States, including public and private sector solid waste collection service providers. The Solid Waste Association of North America recently analyzed the laborer shortage in solid waste collection services, stating, “Both public and private sector collection service providers are facing increased difficulty hiring and retaining collection truck drivers and helpers. Some waste and recycling collection service providers are having difficulty providing services at pre-COVID-19 service levels.”1
Residents can find updates on garbage, recycling, and brush and bulky trash collections on Sanitation’s website, on NextDoor, and the Dallas Sanitation app (App Store / Google Play). Sanitation customers enrolled in the City of Dallas ePay system also receive service advisories directly via email.
The City apologizes for the inconvenience associated with this situation. We thank Dallas residents for their patience and understanding as we work to keep our neighborhoods clean and clutter free.
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References
- Solid Waste Association of North America. Let’s Work Together: Addressing the Labor Shortage in Solid Waste Collection Services. SWANA. https://swana.org/docs/default-source/resources-documents/arf-documents/labor-shortage-in-solid-waste-collection.pdf.
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