Little Rock residents raise issue with city about delayed yard waste pickups

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – In recent weeks Little Rock residents may have noticed a delay in yard waste pick-ups.

City leaders say there were mechanical problems with the trucks used to handle the job and now workers are clocking overtime to catch up.

Kate Schranz said she was unhappy with the yard waste conditions for a long time.

“When I do look across the street and I do see yard waste that has been there for multiple weeks I’m not happy,” Schranz said.

Her neighbor, Kathy Wells, said it’s an issue that should have never gotten as far as it did.

“How did we get to this point? ” Wells asked.

City leaders say they will have five new sanitation trucks within the next 45 days and are buying two more this month, but Wells said it’s time that could’ve been saved.

“You don’t wait until your entire fleet is screaming, ‘I’m riding on the rims,’” Wells said.

And now people are taking matters into their own hands.

“I don’t want to have to sit on my porch and see my waste sitting out front so I do have my yard people take it away,” Schranz said.

She is one of many her neighborhood who said they’re happy to hear about the city’s efforts to resolve the issue, and she’s hoping yard waste sticking around will soon be an issue of the past.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KARK.