Vacations and Sick Calls Delay Garbage Pick-Up In Sacramento

SACRAMENTO (CBS13) – Garbage trucks are on the street in Sacramento today despite normally being off on Fridays.  The reason: so many workers are on vacation or sick, city crews are running behind on garbage pickup.

Garbage trucks are rolling through a Land Park neighborhood for the first time this week trying to catch up on emptying garbage cans.

"I think it's finally happening," said resident Erica Tomlinson.  "I haven't found a single person who's said they've had on time pickup this week."

Today, drivers are working overtime to pick up the slack, picking up trash that's been sitting out a little longer than usual.

The city says about a dozen drivers are out on vacation and 20 more
are either sick or out on medical leave.  Garbage, recycling and yard waste collection has been delayed as a result.

"Typically we don't collect on a Friday but because of this we will be collecting," explained Jessica Hess from the city of Sacramento.

Sacramento's department of utilities insists the sick calls are legitimate and not part of a coordinated work stoppage.  Still they say the staff shortage is unusual.

The city hopes all garbage pick-ups will be back on track by the end of the day.