Solid Waste officials cite spring storms, equipment and staffing for missed collections; council seeks improved communication

The Solid Waste Division told a City Council committee that recent missed collections and bulk‑waste backlogs stem from a mix of seasonal storm debris, equipment break‑downs and higher than normal call volumes concentrated in parts of the city. Philip Davis, solid waste director, said crews are working voluntary overtime, including Saturdays, and the division has added equipment and staff where possible. He identified “Area C” — roughly north to Southern Avenue, south to Interstate 240 and between the Mississippi River and Kirby Parkway — as having the highest volume of 311 calls and collection delays.

Davis said the city collects residential garbage and recycling once per week, with bulk waste scheduled twice per month, and described the department’s organizational structure for collection oversight: four area managers, supervisors and zone crews. He said common causes of missed cart collections include mechanical failures on trucks and customer behavior — carts overloaded, containing liquid, hazardous materials, or being refilled after a truck has already passed. For bulk waste and prohibited items, Davis said the department deploys a tagging system (orange tags for overloaded carts; yellow tags for prohibited or oversized bulk items) and that tagging is intended to notify customers of ineligible material.

Council members pressed for several operational improvements. Councilwoman Logan and Councilwoman Walker asked for an immediate plan to improve customer notification when collections are delayed and for supervisors to perform spot checks behind trucks. Davis said supervisors work standard shifts and that the division can provide a schedule of supervisory spot checks and will work on more direct notification channels. Council members pressed for expanding convenience center hours and locations; Davis listed current access points and hours: Collins Road convenience center at 304 Collins Street (Fri–Sun), the Fairview Boulevard site (3207 Fairview Boulevard) and two landfills (5494 Malone Road inside city limits and 7111 Old Millington Road outside city limits) open Monday–Saturday; recycling drop‑offs are at downtown, Cordova/AgriCenter and Hickory Hill. He said customers with MLGW bills can use the two landfills at no charge. Davis told the committee the division is working to expand days and capacity at convenience centers and will provide a schedule for supervisors and a plan for better advance notice to residents.

Council members also asked the division to share more precise metrics, such as the locations with the most repeat complaints (Bethel Grove, Parkway Village, Fox Meadows and the Hamilton area were flagged by Vice Chair Swearingen Washington) and a timeline for improvements, including whether more contractor assistance would be used in high‑volume zones. The committee did not take formal action but requested a follow‑up report with a supervisor spot‑check schedule, improved communication options for customers, and options for expanding convenience center hours and locations.