Understanding why your trash pickup might be delayed in winter

No one wants their trash and recycling pickup canceled. But when winter storms hit, navigating icy and snowy roads in our heavy collection trucks can be dangerous. We understand the impact of service disruptions, so we want to explain why these delays happen and how we work to minimize them.

The challenges of navigating winter roads in heavy collection trucks

Even though you may be able to navigate your car through the snowy neighborhood streets, conditions may be too dangerous for our massive trash and recycling collection trucks to do the same. Safety is our number one core value. So when winter storms bring heavy snow and ice our way, we are even more vigilant about prioritizing safety above all else

Our trucks use advanced robotics, hydraulics and balancing systems for safe and efficient trash removal. However, these same systems can make navigating snow and ice nearly impossible under certain conditions.

On the rare occasions when we have to cancel service or are unable to get to certain areas on our daily routes, we will do our best to quickly get a notice on our website and through our app to let you know. If service is impacted for a day or two, we’ll make every effort to catch up that same week — even if it means running routes a little later than usual or on a different day. If a severe storm causes multi-day delays, we’ll allow you to set out double your normal amount of trash and recycling the following week.

Providing quality, reliable service is as important to us as it is to you. But during the worst of the winter, we have to balance that with keeping you, our employees and the areas we serve safe.

Transfer Station closures prioritize safety in winter conditions

Winter weather can force temporary closures of the Transfer Station in White City. Our primary concern, both for the public visiting the station and our employees working there, is safety. The Transfer Station has large open areas, including access roads and drop-off zones, that can become hazardous when snow and ice accumulate. Inside the Transfer Station building, the combination of customers unloading materials, our employees working, and heavy machinery operating creates a potentially dangerous environment when snow and ice are present.

So when we determine weather and roadway conditions are making it too dangerous for both the public and for our employees, we close the facility.

Providing reliable service is our commitment to you. While winter weather can present challenges, we're dedicated to minimizing disruptions and keeping you informed every step of the way. Thank you for your understanding during these challenging winter months.