Lauderdale County residents will see garbage trucks rolling earlier than normal after the Board of Supervisors voted Monday to change the start of pickup from 6 a.m. to 5 a.m. The vote came at the request of Meridian Waste, which provides residential garbage service to the county.
Entering the hottest part of the year, starting pickup earlier is intended to help garbage crews beat the heat as well as improve safety. Meridian Waste officials explained the change is also needed due to increased traffic, which has led to crews needing to switch to right-side-only pickup on some of the county’s busier two-lane roads.
Garbage collectors usually cross the road to collect cans from both sides of the street in one stop, but the volume of traffic on some roads makes it difficult for them to cross the street safely. The change means garbage collectors aren’t exposed to oncoming traffic, but the process takes longer as two passes are needed.
Meridian Waste plans to continue collecting from both sides of the road in more rural areas of the county and when traffic is light.
Cole Crozier, Meridian Waste District Manager for Mississippi, said county residents are encouraged to put their cans out the night before scheduled pickup. With an earlier pickup time, that will ensure the cans are out and ready when Meridian Waste trucks come through.
Lauderdale County Solid Waste Enforcement Officer Daniel Mabry said there will be a transition period to help residents adjust to the new pickup schedule. People get into a habit of taking their cans out at a particular time each week, and it can take a while for changes to stick.
During the transition period, Meridian Waste will work with residents if the earlier pickup window is missed or some other issue arises.
“If somebody didn’t get the memo within a couple months, they’re still going to take care of them,” he said.