BALTIMORE — It's been more than eight weeks since Baltimore City suspended bulk trash pickup, citing the impact of COVID-19.
Residents and business owners told WMAR-2 News it's time to restore services.
"The city can keep workers safe," said Bif Downing. "Just like businesses are washing their hands, wearing gloves, and masks, the same can be done with sanitation workers. I'm not buying this narrative the city is telling."
With the suspension of services, Browning and others say they're seeing more trash pileup in alleyways, neighborhood parks and dumpsters belonging to area businesses.
"Sometimes they're overflowing with trash from other people," he said. "I've seen mattresses leaning against dumpsters when clearly the business doesn't sell mattresses."
To deter improper use of his businesses' dumpster Browning uses a lock so that the cover can't be lifted.
"I put it on at night," he said. "As for the illegal dumping, we ran out someone the other day that was throwing out an old filing cabinet. First they just said, 'Oh OK I’ll leave it on the side,' and I said, 'No! This is not bulk pick up. You can’t do that my garbage company won’t pick it up and I will get a ticket.'"
WMAR-2 reached out to Baltimore City's Department of Public Works to see when services might be fully restored.
"We simply do not have the staff to collect bulk items," said a department spokesperson. "Our sanitation yards have been hit very hard with COVID-19 Cases. We are strongly recommending that residents take bulk items to Drop Off Centers at Sisson Street, 2830 Sisson Street; Quarantine Road Landfill, 6100 Quarantine Rd and the Northwest Transfer Station, 5030 Reisterstown Road."
