Central Indiana trash levels surged amid stay-at-home order

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) - Central Indiana trash haulers have collected record levels of residential trash since a statewide stay-at-home order that's now being eased took effect in March due to the coronavirus pandemic, officials said.

In the wake of that trash surge, Indianapolis city workers and private trash-collecting contractors have experienced longer days for drivers, lengthy lines at the dumping site, increased repairs for hard-running trucks and expenses.

Republic Services, which serves homes in Marion County and many of Indianapolis' surrounding suburban counties, saw the volume of weekly residential trash increase 28% when colleges ans schools closed and families began eating at home and ordering takeout, the Indianapolis Business Journa l reported.

'œWe've seen a major volume shift from large (commercial) containers to small (residential) containers,'ť said Craig Lutz, municipal services manager for Republic Services.

Residents stuck at home also started spring cleaning that resulted in a surge of castoffs, which Republic said led to a 48% increase of trash in April.

Rumpke Waste & Recycling, which serves households in 31 Indiana counties, has seen a 25% increase over the last 10 weeks, company officials said.

Indianapolis city employees handle residential trash collection for about 120,000 households. Republic handles 135,000 households and Waste Management about 16,700. The city pays both companies per household per month. The contractors dispose the waste they collect and invoice the city. Cost is based on tonnage.

Trash increased so much that Indianapolis suspended heavy pickup from March 30 to May 4.

'œOtherwise, the situation would have been even more challenging,'ť said Hannah Scott, a spokeswoman for the Indianapolis Department of Public Works.

Waste Management has reported seeing an increase of 25% in residential trash pickup.

'œWhile we've started to see a leveling off, we expect elevated waste volumes at the curb to persist as residents continue to work from home, and businesses are reopening in phased approaches,'ť said Tanisha Sanders, director of government affairs and communications for Waste Management in Indiana, Michigan and Ohio.

Gov. Eric Holcomb began easing Indiana's pandemic restrictions in late April as part of phased reopening of the state's economy.