MURRAY – Residential garbage collection in the City of Murray is expected to return to its normal weekly schedule starting Monday, though crews will continue working under difficult road conditions following last week’s winter weather.
Murray Solid Waste Manager Ron Allbritten said garbage trucks will run their regular routes beginning Monday, provided drivers can safely navigate the streets.
“They’re doing a clean sweep,” Allbritten said. “So, they’re going to get everything.”
Trash service was suspended Monday through Wednesday last week after nearly seven inches of snow and sleet crippled the town. Limited residential and commercial collection resumed Thursday and continued through Saturday, though not all streets could be serviced due to hazardous conditions.
Beginning Monday, residents are asked to place any extra garbage bags beside their trash bin — not on top of it.
“The driver has to dump the can first, then get out, put the extra bags into the bin and dump it again,” he explained.
Allbritten explained that the trucks are designed to be loaded from the top, meaning a bin must be present for collection. Residents should also place bins as close to the road as they safely can.
“We’ve got to try to work together and do the best we can,” Allbritten said. “This is not a normal situation, so allowances are going to be made for it,” he said. “Now, say next week the roads are all clear, then they’re not necessarily going to get out and do another ‘clean sweep,’ but if the can’s a little overfilled and the lid won’t close – but it won’t spill – they’ll pick it up.”
Whether extended accommodations continue will depend on road conditions.
“It’s kind of a wait-and-see situation now because whatever plans we make, Mother Nature may surprise us,” Allbritten said. “We’re trying to do the best we can as safely as we can. Nobody wants a garbage truck in their yard or the side of their building.”
Allbritten said some residents in cul-de-sacs were not serviced last week because trucks could not safely turn around, while others were missed because their cans were not close enough to the street for the truck-arm to reach. There were also several apartment complexes that had not been serviced because parking lots had not been cleared.
“They can’t get in safely to get them,” he said. “As long as they can get to the dumpster, they’re going to service them.”
Conditions have remained challenging even as snow melted.
“It’s worse now than it was on Tuesday,” Allbritten said Friday. “It’s all ice. There’s no snow out there anymore.”
Despite slower-than-usual service expected this week, Allbritten said crews are working to get the city fully back on schedule.
“We’re going to do our best to get everything starting Monday,” he said. “Everything on Monday will run on Monday, Tuesday on Tuesday. It will be a little slower than normal because of the extra that’s out there, but hopefully we’ll get everybody back on schedule and get this behind us next week.”
