Day One of New Trash Bins Seem to be a Success
SYRACUSE, N.Y. (NCC News) – The time has finally come. After months of discussion and deliberation, the new trash bins for Syracuse have arrived. Phase 1 of the new bins and garbage trucks equipped with “tipper arms” started on Monday in North Syracuse and will be expanding to multiple quadrants of Syracuse though the rest of the week.
This new program is the beginning of a long process to slowly transition all of Syracuse to this sanitation system. The mission is to reduce the injuries sustained by sanitation workers, along with reducing litter and keeping neighborhood streets cleaner.
The city delivered 6,800 new trash bins to Syracuse residents last week, before the inaugural trash day that took place today. These new bins came at no cost to homeowners, but that doesn’t mean there weren’t any inconveniences.
Joe Brush, a Syracuse resident, received his new trash bin, but unfortunately had bad timing.
“I just paid $30 a piece for new trash cans not too long ago,” Brush said. “So, I wish I would have known I could have saved 60 bucks.”
The new bins were met with some backlash by residents, with concerns over the size and appearance of these new large bins. Brush believes that these larger bins will help keep raccoons and other pests out of the trash, but he also has concerns once winter season rolls around.
“The only problems they might see is in the wintertime with the snowbanks,” said Brush. “I don’t know how they’re going to work with that.”
On the worker’s side, Efrain Moldonado, a crew leader of the Syracuse Sanitation Department for 25 years, considers day one with the new system a success.
“I think is big time. Yes, we’re out here maybe a couple of hours longer than we’re used to but we’re not so beat up either. We don’t feel our necks ain’t hurting, our back, our legs, anything else,” says Moldonado. “So, yes, even though we’re out here a little longer, I don’t feel so exhausted.”
The remaining 33,000 residents will receive their new bins later this year throughout the next phases. Syracuse residents can also expect covered recycling bins to be introduced in 2024.