Louisville's Solid Waste Management looks to make more recycling routes automated

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) — Louisville recycling crews are being asked to do more than their peers in other cities as their recycling routes are almost 50% larger than what is considered industry standards.

The idea may sound great as taxpayers are getting more for their money, but when your recycling isn't picked up for weeks at a time, there is an issue.

Separating what can be recycled and what can't is a chore.

"It is kind of a pain in the butt,” Nancy Foor, Louisville resident, said.

She and her husband Ralph live on a street where the trash and recycling bins are picked up at the curb. Their street is narrow and there isn't much room for the bins. And the crew that picks up the recycling have passed their house a couple times.

The Foor's recycling is picked up manually — one of the solid waste workers gets off the truck and pulls the bin to the truck.

“And he walks down the street, pulls it out and the arms picks it up and dumps it,” said Ralph Foor.

That procedure takes time and a lot of manpower.

Louisville Metro's Solid Waste Management is looking at converting more recycling routes to fully-automated routes. However, it is unlikely a narrow street like where the Foors live on would be a good fit for such a plan.

Just a few blocks away from the Foors home, a WDRB news crew found recycling bins that had not been picked up in six weeks. The bins are packed and barely close. The recycling truck comes through this neighborhood twice a month, but the truck passes by the hard to reach driveways.

Narrow alleys and streets are difficult for the large recycling trucks to navigate. Louisville solid waste services is finding a balance between easier to get to routes and the more difficult ones.

Solid Waste Management is looking at a more frequent service validation and additional training on how to best navigate routes. Solid Waste Management directors will be in front of a Metro Council committee on Tuesday to discuss the options.

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