Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, January 28, 1994 TAG: 9401280056
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: MICHAEL STOWE STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Few things are more irritating than discovering that your beloved canine - or worse, your neighbor's mangy mutt - has toppled your trash. Coffee grounds, eggshells, soppy paper towels and the like are strewn all over the yard.
It's no picnic for the garbage collectors, either.
Nancy Bailey, coordinator of Roanoke County's solid-waste program, said dog assaults on garbage cans have been up in the past few days thanks to last week's icy conditions.
"The ice caused us a lot of problems," she said.
Crews in Roanoke and Roanoke County were unable to pick up trash last week because of the slick roads. Salem was able to complete only its Monday route.
As a result, full garbage cans - some overflowing with waste - have remained on curbs all over the Roanoke Valley for the past two weeks.
"The longer they sit out there, the more likely it is a dog will get in the garbage," Bailey said.
But with the exception of overzealous hounds and a few delays, Roanoke-area waste management officials say they weathered the ice storm with few problems.
Bill Clark, Roanoke's public works director, said the storm forced his crews to work longer days this week, because they are dealing with twice the normal amount of garbage.
Routes normally completed at 1 p.m. are getting extended to 4 p.m., he said.
"We've had a few complaints, but we haven't had too many problems," Clark said. "But there are some streets where the trash has been sitting out all week."
Bailey said the county's garbage collectors also are working overtime to get back on schedule.
"We still haven't quite caught up," she said Thursday. "There haven't been many complaints, but we hope to be back to normal soon."
John Wade, head of Salem's sanitation department, said his crews were back on schedule, though he feared Thursday's freezing rain might cause new problems.
"We got a little scared," he said.
by CNB