MORGANTOWN — A representative of Republic Services told The Dominion Post that road conditions continue to be an issue, but the trash hauler expects to be 100% caught up in Monongalia County by the end of next week.
“We are facing ongoing challenges with ice and snow on roads that we cannot safely access. While temperatures are warming up during the day, they continue to drop at night and freeze the melted snow, creating ice on roads. Our trucks are not four-wheel-drive, and their ability to drive in snow and ice is significantly limited, even with tire chains,” they said.
Numerous complaints regarding Republic and other haulers prompted the West Virginia Public Service Commission last week to issue a press release asking haulers to park trucks near routes they can’t access to allow customers to drop off trash.
Republic says it has been offering alternative drop locations to impacted customers and is doing everything possible to get caught up as safely and quickly as possible.
Even so, people are frustrated.
WVPSC Chair Charlotte Lane said she is aware of the situation.
“We’ve tried to make alternative arrangements, but people still aren’t having their trash picked up. It’s my understanding that Republic says they still can’t get to some of these folks and it’s still not safe and the conditions are still bad … All I can say is please be patient,” Lane said. “We’ve talked to them. We’re going to check with them on Monday to see how many customers still haven’t had their garbage picked up because I’ve looked at the weather, and it’s supposed to be nice over the weekend.”
Lane said she’s exploring exactly what options the WVPSC has should the situation continue.
“I’m looking into that to see,” she said. “We can order them to pick it up, but if they don’t do it … I’m checking the law to see if there are other remedies that we have.”
On Wednesday, the Monongalia County Commission said it was fielding constant complaints about trash collections.
On Thursday, the issue made it to the Monongalia County Board of Health.
Board member Greg Selasky said his garbage hasn’t been collected in five weeks and he has heard concerns that the trash could become a public health risk.
County Health Officer Dr. Brian Huggins said the risk from the trash itself is low in winter as the temperatures hinder rot and bacterial growth.
He said the bigger risk is probably the animals the trash begins to attract – particularly large or sick animals.
“Realistically, I would say that the health risk is low. The bigger risk that you run is the animal problem. The trash cans that are provided are not animal-proof containers, and in the wintertime, especially with snow, animals are hungry. So if there’s a lot of trash sitting out, that’s good food,” Huggins said, explaining that keeping a large amount of trash inside is also not a great option.
“What I will say is that 100%, if trash isn’t getting picked up in an orderly way, outside you run the risk of animal encounters; inside you run into the problem of things spoiling, fermenting and then potential disease that comes with that, let alone maggots and other things.”
