Flint, Michigan, city workers deployed to collect yard waste amid local Republic driver shortage

Flint, Michigan, Mayor Sheldon Neeley announced May 14 that city workers were being appointed to help pick up curbside yard waste over the weekend that went uncollected by Republic Services due to a lack of available drivers, MLive reports.

“We will not sit idly by while compost sits in our streets,” Neeley said in a statement. “I am thankful to our workers who are willing to step up and take on overtime to provide this service to residents of the city of Flint.”

The city said that Republic would be reimbursing the city $32,000 for stepping in to provide the collection of grass, leaves and branches.

Leading up to the city’s workers being deployed to help with collections, Republic had issued several notices stating that yard waste collections had been temporarily suspended due to a driver shortage.

Although Republic had noted that garbage and recycling pickups remained on schedule, and advocated that residents leave their yard waste on the curb until the Phoenix-based company was able to pick it up, members of Flint’s city council have spoken up to complain about rotting and deteriorating yard waste bags leading to detritus on the streets.

Republic has said it is planning to bring in outside personnel to help in Flint, and that the company remains committed to hiring drivers in the area.

Republic also issued the following email statement to MLive pertaining to the city’s yard waste collection delays.

“Republic Services has been experiencing temporary delays with yard waste collection in the greater Flint area over the last few weeks, and we’re grateful to the city of Flint for its partnership during a challenging time,” the company says.

“We have been in regular communication with city officials and residents, and transparent about the delays in collecting increasing volumes of yard waste. We’ve brought in additional resources to help collect the backlog, and we thank the city for the added support. Republic Services remains committed to providing exceptional service to the city of Flint.”