SE Seminole Heights Yells - Solid Waste Listens

So SE Seminole Heights got into an uproar over trash. Neighbors complained to the City. Here is the response by Solid Waste to the complaint of Delia.

Thank you for sharing your concerns and frustrations with our services. It is evident that we have done less than a professional job at providing both residential and recycling services to Southeast Seminole Heights residents for the past few weeks. I was disappointed to hear that you and other Southeast Seminole Heights residents have done your best in trying to go though normal channels to have your concerns heard and addressed. It is my understanding that you have made several attempts to correct this matter through our management staff with no success.

First, I would like to apologies to you and the residence of Southeast Seminole Heights for the poor collection services for the pass several weeks. There is no excuse on our part for the lack of service or the lack of focus in providing quality service to you our valued customer. Simply, there is no excuse for our action and as Director of the Department of Solid Waste I take full responsibility for the current and past service level.

To address your immediate concerns regarding one of our drivers providing refuse collection and then proceeding to empty the blue box recyclables into the same truck was very alarming and inexcusable. I have taken the time to personally conduct a comprehensive investigation regarding this matter. Although I am still in the discovery process, I wanted you to be aware of my findings up to this point. They are as follows:

1. The refuse collection driver assigned to Southeast Seminole Heights did admit to empting two blue box recycle containers into the garbage truck while servicing his route.
2. The refuse collection driver stated that he had no excuse for his actions and was open and honest about his negligence.
3. The refuse collection driver also acknowledged that the recycling driver assigned to this area had no knowledge of his actions in discarding recyclables in the trash
4. The driver did violate department policy when discarding recyclable materials, which warrants corrective action.
5. Both managers of the Blue Box and Residential Collection Services failed to aggressively respond to the needs and concerns of community residence.
6. Staff failed to manage and adjust to the concerns of Southeast Seminole Heights residence, even after seeing the many trends taking shape.
7. Staff has failed to assign permanent refuse and recycling collection drivers to this area for the past four months.
8. Inconsistent application of services from staff has also contributed to the many concerns of Southeast Seminole Heights.
9. The department lost money when your recyclables and your neighbors were placed in the garbage truck and carried to the Waste to Energy Plant. The net affect of the driver’s actions were the value of the recyclables plus the cost of disposal.
10. Management dropped the ball even before the incident with the blue box bins.


Corrective Action Taken

11. The Director’s office will monitor all collection services provided to Southeast Seminole Heights Community over the next few months.
12. The Department will assign permanent drivers to the Southeast Seminole Heights effective March 27, 2006.
13. Corrective actions (to include disciplinary actions) will be taken to ensure compliance of departmental policies.
14. Additional training will be administered to show the value of doing business the right way.
15. Better communication both internally and to the public regarding our services will be enhanced.
16. Educational materials regarding services will be provided to area residence that may be out of compliance for service (i.e., no building materials, no hazardous waste products, other limitations, etc.) We feel that customers want to follow the collection guidelines they just need to know what the guidelines say for compliance.
17. Other collection routes (refuse, recycling and yard waste) within the city will be monitored to confirm if this is an isolated incident or if the problem is on a larger scale.
18. I have also asked that Southeast Seminole Heights Association to allow me the opportunity to present to them at your next community meeting in May.

Please note, I truly respect and appreciate the strong network from a caring community. Coming from North Carolina where we implemented fines for throwing away recyclables, I find it extremely disappointing to have anyone within my staff take recycling or the concerns of Southeast Seminole Heights residence for granted.

Collectively, the residences of Southeast Seminole Heights have taken the time out of their busy schedules to share the concerns of their community and I appreciate their time. Once again, I apologize to you and Southeast Seminole Heights for the inconvenience and lack of quality service these issues have caused you. Thank you for your time and attention.

David W. McCary, CPM
Director, Department of Solid Waste
(813) 348-1148