Trash service problems continue, but fewer each week

Trash service in Tulsa is in the middle of a massive change.

Starting the first week of October, a new system by a new hauler will kick in.

However, more than eight weeks into an interim system, some in Tulsa say they're still having problems with trash pick-up. But officials who have helped implement the new system say things are improving.

On week one of the interim trash service, the City of Tulsa received more than 1,100 complaints. But each week that number has gone down to about 300 in week eight.

Liz Hunt, who helps oversee the trash service transition for the City of Tulsa, says people need to understand that the new contractor, NeW Solutions, only had about two weeks to figure out how to pickup trash and recycling from 116,000 homes.

"Certainly there have been some missed areas due to a myriad of issues, sometimes human error," Hunt said. "But I think we've identified those areas, and complaints have gone down significantly over the last four weeks."

The most common complaint has been missed pick-ups for people signed up for backyard service. But there are plenty of other issues beyond that.

"The main issue is refuse has not been bagged," Hunt said. "And the collections hauler will not collect refuse that is not bagged."

"Another issue is refuse isn't out to the curb by 6:00 a.m."

Ollie Gresham said he expected some hiccups and growing pains with the interim service, but he's been surprised by how few problems he's seen in his midtown Tulsa neighborhood.

"It has been perfect," Gresham said. "They pick it up at the designated day, they empty it completely, they put it right back where it's supposed to be. I couldn't ask for anything any better."

Gresham said he heard his neighbor complain that his recycling wasn't picked up one week, even though his trash was. But Hunt says that's been a common problem tied to lack of patience.

"[They are] collected on the same day, however at different times," Hunt said. "So, your refuse cart may be serviced at 10:00 a.m., and your recycling cart perhaps at 4:00 p.m."

Gresham just hopes the number of problems continues to move in the right direction.

"If we haven't had many problems now, I hope it stays the same."

The rollout of the new trash carts had gotten slightly behind schedule, but officials with NeW Solutions say the company has hired on another crew to make sure the last of the carts are delivered on time by the last week of September.

The new service, with all of the additional services people signed up for like twice-a-week pick-up, will begin the first week of October.

Anybody with questions about trash service, or needing to file a complaint should call 918-596-9777.