Yard waste pick up delay could last all summer in Lexington

LEXINGTON, Ky. (WTVQ)- With warmer weather, many of you in Lexington are probably outside doing yard work, wondering why your yard waste hasn’t been picked up.

The city says a driver shortage is causing a delay that might last all summer.

A tweet from Mayor Gray explains a driver shortage is keeping yard waste trucks from making all their scheduled stops in one day.

Due to a driver shortage, yard waste trucks are currently unable to service everyone on their regular collection day. Waste Manangement is asking everyone to leave their yard waste carts and brown paper yard waste bags at the curb until they are collected. See details below. pic.twitter.com/Jboa7MNpTP

— Mayor Jim Gray (@JimGrayLexKY) May 9, 2018

If your bin is still full, Leave it at the curb. The city says it won’t fine you.

If your pickup is Monday or Tuesday, crews will try to get it on Wednesday, which is typically a day of from pick up. If your pickup is Thursday or Friday, they’ll try to get it Saturday.

To operate the truck, you need a CDL, a commercial driver’s license.

Nationwide, several groups say there aren’t enough people who want to use one.

In 2017, the American Trucking Associations found there could be a shortage of more than 50,000 drivers at the start of this year.

It is part of the reason neighbors like Lisa DeStella are left waiting, but they don’t seem to mind.

“No, if it’s just a two day delay…” DeStella said.

“They do pick it up in a day or two so I don’t think it’s a real, big deal,” Gagnon said.

The city says the wait could last through the summer, but it is trying to hire and train more drivers.

Lexington’s 311 line asks that you not call about the delay unless your yard waste still hasn’t been picked up after your new makeup day.