Ever wonder what happens behind the scenes on trash collection day in Fitchburg?
I recently spent a morning riding along with E.L. Harvey & Sons to get a firsthand look at how our neighborhood trash is collected, the challenges drivers face, and how their daily operations work.
I joined driver Supervisor Matt, who has been doing this work for many years... and noted I was the FIRST Mayor to ever ride along on one of their trash routes in his time... #1 trashiest mayor
I've made it a point to be getting out into the field with the people providing our essential City services since becoming mayor...plowing, pothole work, trash collection, landfill operations etc... there's a lot you can learn from reports and conversations, but there's tremendous value in seeing the work happen firsthand...being able to ask questions, and understanding what our employees and contractors encounter every day.
Why do some houses get skipped? Sometimes vehicles are blocking access to the trash carts, and other times a cart can be overlooked during collection. If a missed pickup is reported, the expectation is that the crew returns to collect it the next day.
How to report missed trash or recycling pickup? The best is to share a picture and description on the app. Download the 'Fitchburg Trash & Recycle Tool' on Android or iPhone... or use the web based browser at www.seeclickfix.com/fitchburg_2
What happens when road construction blocks access? Drivers try to approach the street from both directions when possible. If construction prevents them from completing a street, they explained that the same crew typically returns the following morning to finish the route.
Why do some overflowing carts get collected while others don't? Different communities enforce cart rules differently. Fitchburg is generally more flexible about lids being completely closed, but carts that are significantly overfilled can create problems for the collection equipment and may be skipped.
Why does yard waste sometimes fall behind? Collection volumes can be unpredictable. A neighborhood might have very little yard waste for several weeks and suddenly have dozens of bags waiting for pickup. That variability makes planning routes more challenging.
One important observation for residents: PLEASE BAG YOUR TRASH before putting it into your cart! Loose trash can spill out during the automated collection process, especially when the cart is lifted and emptied into the truck. I saw multiple single use trash litter being flown out of the cart during collection because it was not placed in a bag....and drivers do not have the time to get out to retrieve everyone's errant unbagged trash.
I also got a better understanding of some of the physical challenges these drivers encounter, including narrow streets, parked vehicles, ongoing construction, and low overhead utility wires that can interfere with the collection equipment. We actually encountered a low-hanging wire on Endlow Street that the truck grazed during collection...
Another interesting takeaway was that Friday routes tend to be among the most complicated, something I'd like to examine further on another route drive...
One area I particularly want to improve is how missed pickups are handled. Our Board of Health sends E.L. Harvey a daily list of reported misses around 4 PM, but we continue hearing from residents who have to call multiple times before their trash is collected. I asked about their procedures for returning to missed addresses because we need more consistent follow-through and better communication when things don't go as planned.
I appreciate Matt (and also boss Mike) taking the time to answer my questions and explain their operations. These drivers are navigating our neighborhoods every day, often dealing with circumstances outside their control, while providing a service that every household depends on.
I also appreciate our Board of Health staff who field residents' concerns and work with the contractor to resolve collection issues.
These ride alongs help better understand where the challenges are, what improvements might be possible, and how we can work with our contractors and City departments to provide more reliable services.
And for residents, a few simple things help: keep your carts accessible (away from parked vehicles is most important), avoid overfilling them, bag your trash, and report missed collections so they can be addressed.
There's always room for improvement, and I plan to keep getting out into the field, asking questions, and looking for opportunities to make our City services work better for Fitchburg residents.
