The company that collects yard waste for the City of Omaha is expanding their routes due to high volumes
In order to meet the City’s requirement for segregated collection, the company has increased the number of collection routes along with hiring additional drivers. “Previous segregated yard waste collection services prior to 2015 were never successfully executed, resulting in incomplete routes and delayed collection,” said Justin Vetsch, district manager for Waste Management. “In the last two years, we have increased driver staffing from sixty-four to eighty-seven drivers to help ensure timely service and safe operations.”
This Spring, an additional twelve weekly routes were added in anticipation of yard waste season. “The company is in the process of adding eight more routes to meet the demand of unlimited yard waste volumes" Vetsch says. Since segregated collection of yard waste began on April 10, over two thousand tons of yard waste have been diverted to the city’s compost facility
Waste Management officials say the unlimited yard waste volumes have resulted in long hours for the drivers and helpers. “It is imperative that we protect the safety of our drivers and the community, as well as meet the residents’ expectations,” Vetsch says.
Waste Management of Omaha is working with the city to meet the requirements of the contract. "Our number one goal is to ensure the residents receive an outstanding level of service while maintaining safe operations in the community," Vetsch says. Reports of missed service calls to the City's service center have dropped 54% in the last year.