Current System – Content
Problems with the Current System
Our current manual solid waste and semi-automated recycling collection systems are injury-prone, antiquated and labor intensive. Our employees work in traffic; they are subject to back and joint injuries, repetitive motion injuries, slips and falls; and they are exposed to infectious diseases, sharp objects, flying objects, excessive heat, extreme cold, rain, snow, and ice. All too often, our household waste collection workers suffer serious, potentially disabling injuries. On average, each of our solid waste collection workers lifts and loads over 8 tons of refuse per day; and each of our solid waste and recycling collectors steps in and out of the truck cab, or on and off the rear running board between 400 and 600 times a day. Nationally, solid waste and recycling collectors are three times more likely to be killed on the job than police officers or firefighters. Given our mission, it would be irresponsible of us NOT to address these significant worker safety problems.
To learn more about worker safety issues and the impact workers’ compensation claims associated with our current processes have on the city, follow the links below:
Waste Collection Dangers Poster
Civilian Occupations with High Fatal Injury Rates, Bar Graph
Sanitation Injuries 2008 to 2015, For Open House Display
US Bureau of Labor Statistics and Hazard Bullet Points
Additionally, problems associated with the use of non-standard, often uncovered resident-owned trash containers, and set-outs of un-contained wastes and trash bags have persisted for over 100 years. Cans can tip and be blown over, and animals often rip into trash bags, creating litter and disease vectors. Rain and snow can enter uncovered containers increasing the weight of collected wastes, resulting in increased disposal costs.
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To read some excerpts from newspaper articles and financial reports from early in our program’s history concerning problems associated with non-standard trash containers, follow this link: To read some excerpts from newspaper articles and financial reports from early in our program’s history concerning problems associated with non-standard trash containers, follow the links below:
