In Virginia Beach, Va. waste crews are currently working six days a week and picking up a lot more trash than usual in light of COVID-19. With more people working from home, trash, yard waste, and recycling volumes are up 20%. The number of people making drop-offs at the landfill also increased by almost 90%.

“People are cleaning out their garages and doing a lot of yard work and it just creates a lot more material for the city,” noted Public Works Waste Management Operations Manager Gary Kelly.

George Anderades is one of the city’s Waste Operators and noted that while every day brings a new challenge, he is dedicated to maintaining a high level of service. “[People] need their service and we need to provide the service as much as we can and we need to take care of them. They are our people.”

Lately, some trash cans have been so full that Anderades can’t use the electronic arm to pick them up. “So I have to get out, lighten up, dump the can and refill it.”

Kelly assures local customers that, “If it’s at the curb, we will make sure it gets service.”

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