NEW ORLEANS (WVUE) – The city of New Orleans announced on Saturday, October 9 that garbage collection for most residents and businesses in the city would be reduced to once a week.

“It’s time to bring some predictability so our residents can better prepare for their garbage collection,” New Orleans Sanitation Manager Matt Torri said in a written statement announcing the decision. “We are convinced that this temporary move will help us get back on track”

Consistent solid waste collection was problematic across much of the city, even in the weeks leading up to Hurricane Ida on August 29. The administration announced the drastic reduction in service in an unusual press release on Saturday morning.

The Cantrell administration did not immediately respond to requests for further explanation of the decision.

The reduction in service affects customers served by Metro Services Group and Richard’s Disposal, the two largest contractors paid to pick up trash in most of the city. Customers in the French Quarter and parts of the Central Business District and Faubourg Marigny that are served by another supplier are not affected.

In its written statement, the city said the new approach “will bring a level of consistency to residents” and “effectively allow twice as many trucks to travel through the designated area on each day of service.” He said more details of the plan and a new garbage collection schedule would be available on the Sanitation Department’s website on Sunday.

Although the plan was described as “temporary,” the written statement said that might not be the case.

For what has been described as service area 1 (most of the West Bank and Algiers in the West Bank), he said the city “will continue to monitor progress to determine whether a return to bi-weekly collection is possible in the region. the near future “.

For what has been described as Service Area 2 (Gentilly across New Orleans East), the city said it “plans to start a new supply within the next 60-90 days.” Once this new contract has been awarded, the press release indicates that “information on the frequency of collections will be shared”.

The city also said customers’ sanitation charges would be suspended in November and reflected as a credit on their monthly sanitation and water bill.

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