Waste Management

Not a Lovely Matter for the City of Garland

Resident says trash leading to  bacteria, insects and rats

By Sylvia Dunnavant Hines News Correspondent As people are buying gifts and celebrating loved ones during the month of February, Cheryl Goode is just hoping to end her on-going trash pickup issue In Garland, Texas. Over a month ago, Dallas was swamped with issues about trash pickup. Goode admits Garland is also experiencing their issues with waste management in her local condominium complex. “There is one bin in our condominium that is routinely overflowing into a nearby parking space of one of the residents.  There has also been a couch and a desk sitting behind one of the bins for over a month,” said Goode. Goodes’ concerns about trash pick up at the Westwind Condominiums in Garland began shortly after she moved in last July. The complex, which is less than a mile from Lake Ray Hubbard, has 63 units and two trash bins. “I am not sure what the resolution for this issue is. With 63 units, we might need more trash bins, larger bins,  or there may need to be more frequent pickups to keep the issue from getting out of control,” said Goode. According to Goode the condominiums have a Homeowners Association (HOA) fee of an average of $380 a month. This fee is scheduled to go up 20 percent and includes additional fees for large pick-up items and an extra assessment. “Many of the residents were complaining regarding the additional charges. Most of us were concerned that they are not picking up the items now, it doesn’t make sense to pay more for this service,” she explained. Garland Mayor Scott LeMay said that he was unaware of the trash issue. However; he did admit the City of Garland was behind on trash pickups for three days due to the recent ice storm. He also stated that he would elevate this matter to the city’s sanitation department. “This is more than an ice storm issue. I am not someone that is going to complain because of a one time thing,” said Goode. “This is becoming a habit. I know that I am not the only one complaining at the HOA meeting in January.  One of the major consistent complaints was the lack of trash pickups. “They finally picked up the trash after a month, but I noticed there are still trash bags down in the drainage ditch and under the bins. It’s like the issue is not being taken seriously.” Goode, who has been complaining about this problem for several months,  is also concerned about the bigger issues at stake from the overflowing trash bins. She said the overflowing waste bins are breeding grounds for bacteria, insects and rats. “I realized that people were at home during the ice storm. But nobody wants to keep trash in their house or on their patio areas. But we don’t have a choice when we know it is not going to be picked up,” said Goode, who is committed to a permanent resolution to the trash issue. While several properties contacted throughout the Metroplex have been dealing with the improper dumping of tras, some have hired trash pickup services. One property manager, who would not allow the use their name or property said while the trash is a problem, tenants also have a shared responsibility for the disposal of their garbage and some tenants are just “lazy, sloppy and nasty.”