Omicron has US streets overflowing with garbage

By Al Mayadeen Net
Source: Agencies
15 Jan 2022 09:04

Due to Omicron-affected sanitation workers, piles of garbage and recyclables engulf the streets of US cities.

Some municipalities are hiring temporary or private sanitation workers to help solve the garbage and recyclables pickup crisis.

The wide-spreading Omicron variant is hitting sanitation workers in the US hard, causing delay and suspension of garbage and recyclables pickup, which is angering residents.

Recycling bins full of Christmas presents and piles of garbage can be seen uncollected on many streets in Nashville, Philadelphia, and Atalanta, blocking sidewalks and storm drains, reported the Associated Press.

“If it was a business that wanted to come in here, they would dump money in to make it happen,” expressed Madelyn Rubin, from Jacksonville, Florida, where recycling was suspended.

Nashville City Council member Freddie O’Connell revealed that there is “no hotline for people who are mobility impaired or don’t have reliable access to a car” to drop off their recyclables, noting that he was surprised to hear recycling was halted in the city.

“It feels like a failure of governance,” he underlined.

Short on sanitation workers

A low vaccination rate among sanitation workers and a “perfect storm for delayed collection” are causing all the delay and suspension of garbage and recyclables pickup, indicated David Biderman, the Executive Director of the Solid Waste Association of North America.

The crisis seems to be lasting for a while, as Atlanta officials said Monday pickups will be resumed “as staffing allows,” while Los Angeles confirmed that the delays could continue through the month.

According to AP, 2,000 of New York City's 7,000 called in sick, while the rest are struggling with working long hours to pick up as much waste as they can. It is noteworthy that NYC is famous for having the largest municipal sanitation force in the world.

Similarly, in Philadelphia, 10% to 15% of the city's 900 sanitation workers are affected by Omicron, stated its Streets Commissioner Carlton Williams.

In the rise of the ongoing situation, some municipalities are hiring temporary or private sanitation workers to help solve the garbage and recyclables pickup crisis.