DC Prepares to Resume Trash Collection Amid Ongoing Snow and Ice Challenges
After a relentless snowstorm on Sunday, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser announced that the city is making significant progress, and essential services, including garbage collection, will resume this weekend.
City officials have outlined a plan to restart residential trash pickup, prioritizing homes that typically receive front-side collection. Bowser assured residents, "If your household normally gets front-side collection, we will begin to pick up your trash tomorrow, and we aim to complete front-side collections for Monday and Tuesday this weekend."
Due to the delay in trash collection, which is approximately a week behind schedule, the city will collect trash from Wednesday of the previous week on Monday and Thursday of the previous week on Tuesday until they resume their regular routine.
For homes with alley pickups, the city will employ Bobcat machinery to retrieve garbage cans trapped in snow and ice. Despite ongoing complaints about snow- and ice-covered streets and sidewalks, Bowser provided an optimistic update, acknowledging the challenges but also highlighting the city's efforts.
She mentioned that National Guard troops, present in D.C. since the summer, are assisting with clearing pathways for pedestrians to reach bus stops. Additionally, the D.C. National Guard will help remove snow from public schools, starting on Saturday, at the request of the D.C. government.
While Bowser refrained from assigning a letter grade to the city's performance, she emphasized that the evaluation should be left to the residents. She noted that 250 city plows and 130 contractors have been working tirelessly since the initial snowfall, enabling the continuation of downtown events like the Washington D.C. Auto Show.
The mayor also addressed the extreme cold temperatures, which have complicated snow and ice removal efforts, as no day has been above freezing this week, preventing melting. She encouraged residents to take advantage of the upcoming sunlight and warmer temperatures to clear their walkways and sidewalks, especially if they lack the necessary equipment. For those in need, the city offers a sidewalk shoveling exemption for qualifying residents aged 65 or older.
Furthermore, the city will provide free salt at five distribution sites this weekend to assist residents in tackling icy conditions. Residents are advised to sign up in advance (https://www.eventbrite.com/e/mayor-bowsers-community-salt-pick-up-tickets-1982048126301?aff=oddtdtcreator) and can collect salt with their own bucket or bag during the following hours: 9 a.m. to 11 a.m., noon to 2 p.m., and 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. at the following locations: Deanwood Recreation Center, Greenleaf Recreation Center, Kennedy Recreation Center, Turkey Thicket Recreation Center, and Wilson Aquatic Center.
