FCity, SFC crews working to collect garbage on routes

Residents thanked for patience on delays caused by winter storm

Solid waste crews in the city and county have a plan in place to get everyone’s trash picked up and back on schedule as quickly as possible.

Crews have been unable to pick up trash since Tuesday afternoon, after running some routes Tuesday morning.

Forrest City Public Works Director Darin Flenoy said city crews began picking up trash today, starting with the routes scheduled for the first of the week, and plan to continue servicing the routes through the weekend.

Flenoy urges Forrest City residents whose trash had not yet been picked up this week to leave their trash cans on the curbs, saying crews will get to them as soon as they can.

“We have street crews helping the solid waste department today by picking up trash in neighborhoods and helping out on the garbage trucks,” said Flenoy. “If everything goes according to our plans, we will work tomorrow and maybe even Sunday, if we can, to get caught up.”

St. Francis County Judge Craig Jones said county crews will begin picking trash up on Monday and work throughout next week trying to get caught up.

“We are not running today because some of the county roads are still in bad shape and covered in ice,” said Jones. “Everyone is welcome to leave their trash dumpsters by the road and we’ll pick them up on their regularlyscheduled days next week. There may be a little delay on the pickups, but we’ll get to it as soon as we can. Everyone needs to put their carts out on whatever day their regular pickup is and we’ll get it.”

Crews were able to run the Monday routes in Forrest City and the county before the storm hit.

“We hope to be back on our regular schedule Monday,” said Flenoy. “If not, we’ll let people know where we stand.”

Trash collected locally is taken to the landfill in Helena-West Helena, which has been closed since the storm hit.

Flenoy said if that landfill remains closed, the city is allowed to use the landfill in Crittenden County.

“I’ve tried calling the landfill this morning and no one is answering. I’m going to continue trying to call them and if they’re not open, we have the right to take our trucks to the Crittenden County landfill,” said Flenoy. “I

spoke with them yesterday and they are open today until 4 and will be open tomorrow from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.”

Jones discourages residents from placing trash bags beside their dumpsters.

“Don’t place your garbage bags on the ground next to the cans. Instead, wait until the day of your scheduled pickup and put them on top of the dumpster,” said Jones. “If you have a lot, maybe hold some back and put it out the next week. We hope to be back on our regular schedule by Feb. 13.”

Both Jones and Flenoy thanked residents for their patience with the garbage situation.