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The City of Fort Worth has acknowledged a significant issue with its garbage collection services, with hundreds of missed pickups occurring monthly.
Eli Sanders, a resident of North Fort Worth for eight years, noted a change in trash collection services recently.
“For the past three months or so, it’s been inconsistent. Sometimes, our trash wouldn’t get picked up at all, which has been frustrating for my wife and me as we wonder where to put our waste,” Sanders explained.
He reported his trash being missed three or four times in recent months, a situation mirrored by his neighbors.
“We’ve got trash cans lining the street, and it looks unsightly,” Sanders added.
This issue extends beyond Sanders’ neighborhood, according to the City of Fort Worth, presenting a citywide challenge.
At a recent work session with city council members, Environmental Services Director Cody Whittenburg reported an average of 1,600 missed pickups per month over the past six months. This figure surpasses the industry standard of keeping missed pickups below 1,100 per month.
Whittenburg highlighted that residents with disabilities are facing even greater challenges, experiencing a higher rate of missed pickups compared to others.
City Council Member Charlie Lauersdorf expressed frustration during a meeting in April, stating, “I’m tired of it. I’m absolutely ready to declare war on this whole process.”
In response, Whittenburg outlined a plan to address the issue, including improved communication and the utilization of technology for route monitoring, especially for customers with disabilities.
Waste Management (WM), the city’s contractor, acknowledged the problem and stated they are collaborating with the city to resolve the issues.
Residents are encouraged to report missed trash pickups promptly through various channels provided by the city, including the City Call Center, email, the city’s website chat feature, or the MyFW app. Reports should be made after 7 a.m. the following day, with carts left at the curb for collection.