INDIANAPOLIS — The Indianapolis Department of Public Works will not suspend heavy trash pick-up service after all.
On Thursday, Indy DPW announced heavy trash pickup will be suspended for two weeks while it prioritized standard, curbside trash collection.
On Friday though, DPW said additional union employees will allow for a special heavy trash collection on Saturday for those routes suspended between Aug. 25-27. Items will need to be placed on the curb by 7 a.m. for those routes.
The special collection day will target 19 heavy trash routes; impacted areas include neighborhoods such as University Heights, Englewood, Mapleton-Fall Creek, Kennedy-King, Haughville, Hawthorne, and The Valley.
After makeup days for the Monday and Tuesday routes, heavy trash collection will resume with the routes with pick up on the first Wednesday of the month.
"In the face of continued staffing challenges—as well as increased trash volume—aggravated by the ongoing pandemic, this is yet another example of Team DPW coming together for the people of Indianapolis," said Dan Parker, Indy DPW Director. "While we thought our Solid Waste division was going to have to suspend heavy trash service to focus on residential curbside trash pick-up, the women and men of our Operations division have stepped up to the plate in a big way to help out. We understand that many residents don’t often need to consider how we staff trash collection services, but thanks is really due in this instance to the workers of AFSCME Local 725 for standing in the gap during this unique situation."
The Citizens Transfer Station at 2324 S. Belmont Ave. will continue to be staffed on Saturdays for people to bring large items for proper disposal.
Indy DPW said issues with curbside recycling fall outside of what it handles and should be addressed with the provider.
Indy DPW and Republic Services previously addressed issues with trash pickup in the city.
Staffing and other pandemic-related issues were cited in a joint release.
Republic said it had identified issues causing the delays including staffing, shortage of truck parts, and the continued increase in solid waste volume.
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