Barney Shapiro, owner of Tenleytown Trash, and his staffers haul trash in Washington, DC, and Maryland. Like the entire waste management industry, Shapiro is trying to keep his employees healthy and safe so they can handle the massive influx of household trash that is accumulating as more Americans self-quarantine at home.”Our residential volumes are drastically increased,” Shapiro said. “People are calling in and asking for increased services. We can’t do that on a short-term basis. It’s just a nightmare.”
Republic Services, one of the largest waste management companies in the US, said it expects the volume of residential garbage to increase by as much as 30%. In order to redirect resources and address the growing amount of day-to-day household waste, about 50 communities nationwide have paused curbside recycling pickup and dozens have suspended yard waste collection, according to the Solid Waste Association of America. Other companies are shifting workers to residential routes and away from slower commercial routes where many of thebusinesses have closed.
Companies are also making contingency plans in case the residential volume becomes too great or their workers get sick. Shapiro said one of his drivers and the colleague he rides with have both tested positive for coronavirus, as well as one of his administrative employees. Another driver recently said he was scared to work and is staying home, according to Shapiro. And Shapiro, who employs 32 drivers, is growing concerned that more employees will want to do the same. “I hate to say this. Those things do tend to snowball,” he said. “I can’t say to a driver, ‘No I want you working.’ Quite honestly, they’re being put at risk.”