Trash Piles Forming On Sides Of Salt Lake City Streets

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – Being able to bike to work is a big reason why Jeff Bistrong bought a house in the Glendale neighborhood last year.

“I was looking for something that was a little bit more affordable yet I still wanted to be close to downtown,” said Bistrong while standing outside his home along Cheyenne Street.

Lately, though, you can’t blame him for wondering if he made the right decision.

Garbage on side of road
(Photo by Winston Armani, KSL TV)

“I’d say it’s definitely a bit of an eyesore,” he said while looking down the road.

Couches, mattresses, and almost everything in between line the street he lives on.

You can see the same sight on several other streets in the neighborhood as well.

“People think that they can just dump stuff on the street like it doesn’t matter to them. There’s no repercussions,” said Bistrong.

Tuesday, Salt Lake City workers with the Waste and Recycling Division were putting reminders on doors of a new trash pickup program this year.

Sophia Nicholas
(Photo by Winston Armani, KSL TV)

“Yeah, there is a new program. It’s called ‘Call to Haul.’ We’re excited about this new service,” said Sophia Nicholas, who is Salt Lake City’s communications manager for the Division of Sustainability. “It’s an opportunity for us to have a year-round program. So, we’ll be able to run 12 months out of the year.”

Basically, the old “neighborhood clean up” program, where you brought your bulk garbage out to the curb to be picked up on a certain day, is gone.

Instead, you call the city and schedule a day for your particular house.

Garbage dumped
(Photo by Winston Armani, KSL TV)

“If you see that your neighbors put stuff out, it doesn’t just mean that it’s time for you to do the same thing. Please call us to schedule your collection,” said Nicholas. “We understand there is going to be a bit of a transition period.”

That transition period may be part of the issue.

It’s possible a homeowner called to schedule a garbage pickup and then put their garbage outside.

Jeff Bistrong
(Photo by Winston Armani, KSL TV)

Others not aware of the new program may think it is neighborhood cleanup time and brought their garbage to the side of the road.

Even still, nobody should just dump their garbage and old stuff on the side of the road. It’s basically littering. And for those who live here, it’s home.

“It’s annoying people don’t care for the community around them as much as we all should,” said Bistrong.

To request a pickup or to get further information, go to https://www.slc.gov/sustainability/waste-management/c2h/