NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) — If you've noticed that your trash isn't always picked up on time, you're not alone. A Metro Public Works administrator says Nashville's unprecedented growth is partially to blame.
"The Donelson and Antioch areas had seen a significant amount of growth. Some of those routes had way more stops on it that could really be managed," said Sharon Smith, Assistant Director of Metro Public Works.
COVID-19 has also increased the amount of trash families are leaving curbside.
"More folks working from home means the waste you would have generated in the office that the business paid for is now being generated at home," said Smith.
Metro is now dumping the old schedule and wheeling in something new. Starting November 1, MPW is going from a four-day collection week to five days a week. That means about 80% of Nashvillians will have a different day for trash pickup. You'll be getting a letter in the mail soon, letting you know your new day and an explanation of all the changes.
If you don't want to wait for the letter, you can enter your address here.
It will also change the holiday trash pickup schedule. Instead of just missing out on trash removal for the week, everyone's pick up day will move back one day for that week.
"So every time there’s a holiday moving forward, everything will just shift one day. And that’s going to take us a little while to get used to," said Smith.
It's not just Nashville curbs that are filled to the brim. NewsChannel 5 received pictures of trash cans overflowing at Love Circle Park. For that specific park, maintenance is handled by Metro Water Services. Metro Parks handles trash pickup at the rest of Nashville's parks. According to Smith, there are so many people out and about at parks because of COVID-19, it can be hard to keep up.
"A lot people enjoying the outdoors with COVID," said Smith.
