Complaints about Republic Services trash pickup extend into Hamilton County
INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — Trash pickup issues are not isolated to Indianapolis.
A Republic Services customer on a road near Cicero told News 8 he and his family pay $700 a year for weekly trash pickup, but he says lately he’s lucky to see a trash truck twice a month.
The trash pickup on Mount Pleasant Road in Hamilton County is scheduled for Fridays. Three days into this week, the trash was still outside the home of Corey Miller and his family.
“And if you leave the trash outside like they are suggesting, so that they pick up double the amount every other week, animals are getting into it. It is getting spread across other people’s yards and the road. It is making an environmental mess,” Miller said.
Miller says he has called Republic to complain and ask for a discounted rate. He pays $175 every three months for weekly trash pickup. “They refused to do that and gave me a credit for $25. You do the math; that is not at all what I should have been credited,” He said.
He and his neighbors have few options when it comes to trash service. It’s a take-it-or-leave situation.
Out on the east side of Indianapolis, I-Team 8 found a Republic trash truck in a neighborhood that has been suffering with sporadic trash service. Amy Streeval says she has called the Mayor’s Action Center a couple times to complain.
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“They have not been picking up trash on the day they are suppose to. Sometimes it doesn’t get picked up at all, and they are leaving piles of trash, as you can see,” Streeval said.
In September, the city paid Republic more than $1.8 million for trash service. The company rebated the city $3,650 for missed trash service during that month. Residential customers in Marion County will not see a rebate for missed service. The Department of Public Works says the city is working with Republic to improve service. Public Works says some of the issues are related to a 10% increase in trash, which means more trips to the landfill while the company is suffering from a labor shortage.
Streeval says she has watched trash trucks drive right past her street. “I have called the Mayor’s Action Line three times. I live on a cul-de-sac, and they will just pass by my cul-de-sac, not even come down there at all,” Streeval said.
Residents of Indianapolis and the rest Marion County who are having problems with trash pickup can call the call the Mayor’s Action Center.
Republic Services customers outside of Indianapolis must call the company to report issues.