Despite dangerously high temperatures this summer, Wilmington’s Solid Waste workers are still out picking up trash. Because they pick up trash, recycling, yard waste and bulky items for approximately 30,000 customers regardless of the temperature outside, all workers receive training on recognizing signs of heat exhaustion. The city employs approximately 75 workers who drive 36 trucks covering almost 50 square miles each week. The only holidays crews do not work are Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day.

Amount of trash increases, complaints decrease
Over the past 12 months, crews have collected 54.5 million pounds of trash, up 7 percent from the same time last year. Last month alone, crews collected 4.6 million pounds of trash. In 2006, the city took over solid waste and recycling services from private contractors. As a result, the number of residents having their trash and recycling picked up by the city has increased by 600 percent, but trash and recycling complaints have decreased by 78 percent one year after the takeover.