O'Fallon To Change Trash Routes: No Monday Pickups

Steve Bender, O'Fallon Public Works Director, spoke to the City Council last week about changes to the city's trash service schedule.

The change to four 10-hour shifts, Tuesday through Friday, would mean that the city would no longer have pickups on Mondays.

"It's less confusion if we skip the Monday holidays," Bender said. Monday routes would be shifted to Wednesdays, with some exceptions.

Mayor Bill Hennessy pointed out that his neighborhood already had recycling and yard waste pickup on Wednesday, and Bender said there were a few situations like that, but not many, and that his department would address them.

"We haven't changed anything yet," Bender said. His department is working on a plan to inform the public with meetings and mailings.

Bender said that the new schedule also offers "operational efficiencies," since every shift requires that the trucks and equipment be inspected, warmed up and then prepped for the next day at the end of the shift. 

"It's one less trip a week," Bender said.

Jim Wensara, environmental services superintendent, was asked how his employees felt about the change. He said that out of 26 employees, 23 were happy with it.
 
"Three of them would prefer not to, but they don’t have a problem with it," Wensara said.