Allied Waste working to correct delayed recycling collections, manager says

YOUNGSTOWN

Allied Waste Services is having “a systemic problem” with collection of recyclables from curbside bins county-wide, according to Jennifer Jones, city litter control and recycling coordinator.

Jones said this afternoon that she has been receiving 15 to 20 complaint calls a day on this issue.

Allied officials told her the problem stems in part from staffing shortages and substitute drivers who aren’t familiar with the collection routes and said they’ll remedy the problem next month after newly hired drivers are trained, Jones said.

Another problem, Jones said, is that the Greenstar materials recovery facility in Poland that sorts and bundles the recyclable materials has reduced its hours, opening now at 7 a.m., instead of 3 a.m., thereby reducing the number of trips Allied’s trucks can make in a day.

Recent complaints pertain to full recycling bins sitting three weeks at curbside along Price Road and Wilkinson Avenue on the city’s West Side, Douglas Dunn, Allied Waste general manager, acknowledged.

Dunn said he’ll be there Thursday to ensure those bins are collected as scheduled. Those bins are supposed to be collected every other Thursday in that area.

“We have operating challenges like many trucking companies, and we’re identifying them and working through them,” Dunn said.

Allied provides free curbside recycling in the heavily populated areas of Mahoning County.

“The public does value it but we need to communicate when there are delays,” said city Councilman Mike Ray, D-4th.

Ray said Allied should issue a news release acknowledging and explaining such delays when they occur and asking for the public’s patience.

For the complete story, read Thursday's Vindicator or Vindy.com.