COVID-19 and Your Trash

Trash pickup in Hendersonville has been... not great lately. According to the city’s provider, that’s because of COVID-19.

After receiving a record number of trash service complaints within the last couple of weeks, the city’s Public Works Committee held a special-called meeting on Monday to discuss the issue.

The coronavirus pandemic has affected nearly every aspect of life, including trash collection, Interim Public Works Director Marshall Boyd told committee members and several other aldermen who attended the meeting via Zoom.

“In the past couple of weeks, the number of complaints has reached levels we have never experienced and are never comfortable with,” said Boyd. He attributed the amount of complaints regarding missed trash pick-up to staffing issues with Waste Pro due to COVID-19.

 https://www.hendersonvillestandard.com/news/waste-pro-trash-delays-due-to-staffing-issues-related-to-covid-19/article_2d5e8640-ccd6-11ea-b6b8-1f4d20226628.html

Scott Sprouse Talks Trash

Hendersonville Alderman Scott Sprouse (Ward 2) took to Facebook to talk about ongoing problems with the city’s trash vendor, Waste Pro. Here’s what he had to say:

Based upon the calls and texts I’ve received, trash pickup this week is worse than last week, especially routes on the Walton Ferry peninsula yesterday and more so for the route serving the area south of Luna Lane. Waste Pro starting running a rolling schedule this week, meaning they start each day by finishing the previous day’s routes before starting the routes scheduled for that day. That means they were supposed to finish the Walton Ferry peninsula routes today before moving on to other areas of town. Please message me directly if you do not receive service by the end of today. My email address is ssprouse@hvilletn.org. You may call or text me at 615-824-9327.

In May 2019, I cast the lone vote against selecting Waste Pro and changing to once a week service. My vote was based upon my experience gained over the years and my concerns that unfortunately have since been proven justified.

Please be assured city staff and officials are fully engaged with this issue. Waste Pro is expected to uphold their contractual obligations. If they don’t, the city has the ability to terminate the contract, but that is a process that requires time and documentation. As a practical matter, it also requires the city to make arrangements to have a new provider ready to assume the work.

The bottomline is the situation is unacceptable. I understand the anger. I share the frustration. I will not accept COVID-19 as an excuse. The pandemic did not cause the problems with our trash service, it only more fully revealed problems already there.

I have read people suggest bringing trash to aldermen’s homes. If I were in your shoes, I would think the same thing, but instead of putting that messy burden on my neighbors, please let me come to you. I’m ready to borrow my father’s pickup and make runs to the dump myself. Just let me know via the email address or cell number provided above.

I am sorry for the trouble. You deserve better.

Waste Pro, Week 1

Last week was Week 1 of Waste Pro, the new trash service in Hendersonville. By all accounts, it was somewhat rough.

This week will be the second week -- if you're on the Indian Lake Peninsula, your pickup is tomorrow (Monday, July 8th).

Here's more on Week 1 from Ward 2 Alderman Scott Sprouse:

Today was the first day of trash collection on the Walton Ferry Peninsula under the new service provider. You don't need me to tell you the change has not gone well. Many of you just have to look out your backdoor and see a full trashcan. Yesterday (first day on the Indian Lake Peninsula) wasn't very good either.

I voted against the change to once a week and the change to a new provider, but I was in the minority. Once the decision was made, however, my job became helping make it work. Quite frankly, we have a way to go.

I am reporting misses, escalating second misses, and working with staff. I am answering questions and striving to clear up misinformation, including when an employee of the new company told someone erroneously cans had to be visible from the street in order to be picked up. (This is not a requirement as it is impracticable if not impossible at many homes.) We were able to nip that one in the bud pretty quickly. This afternoon, I had a conversation with the new company's representative about setting expectations both ways. I had my most recent conversation with our acting Public Works Director this evening.

If you have a miss, the best way to let me know is via direct communication. I cannot guarantee I will see every comment posted in every discussion in social media. Please contact me via a Facebook private message, phone call (615-824-9327), text message (same number), or email (ssprouse@hvilletn.org). I will do all I can to help.

And, an end of week update with positive news:

Waste Pro has crews out today working specifically on misses from Monday through Wednesday. (Originally, they planned to take today off for the holiday.) So far this morning, two people for whom I have reported misses have told me their trash was picked up this morning. We still have a way to go, but I'm taking this as a good sign.

How did it go for you? Keep us posted: newshendersonville@gmail.com

Garbage Map

Waste Pro begins once-a-week trash pickup next week, starting July 1.

Here's a map of the days of the week your trash will be picked up --

of course, let us know if you experience any challenges in this transition:

newshendersonville@gmail.com