DPW lays out data and steps to address missed pickups, recycling and illegal dumping

Tariq Rolland, interim director of the Department of Public Works, told the Municipal Council on Jan. 14 that the city’s refuse and recycling operations faced unusually heavy volumes over the holiday period and outlined operational changes and data efforts to reduce missed pickups and illegal dumping.

Rolland provided weekly tonnage figures to the council, saying the week after Thanksgiving this year saw roughly 3,350 tons collected across recycling, bulk and refuse versus about 3,080 tons in the prior comparable week. He described November weekly averages and noted that one Thanksgiving week required handling roughly two weeks’ worth of work in a single week, creating pickup backlogs.

Council members pressed for accountability, supervision and staffing. Councilman Council (as identified in the transcript) asked whether supervisors are performing proactive spot checks and argued that employees…