Residents of Shrewsbury,
The Department of Public Works continues to push our contracted hauler to try to find a solution to the yard waste challenges we are facing. Our hauler is if facing driver shortages due to COVID-19. That is both quarantine protocols and the general lack of available drivers to fill positions within their organization. Please note, It is very likely that collections will continue through Saturday, May 8, 2021, with additional resources coming in from out of state to support the collections. The Department of Public Works is carefully tracking the missed reportings with the hauler, do not hesitate to contact dpwsupport@shrewsburyma.gov to report missed collections. We will continue to provide updates through Newsflash and CodeRed on collection status.
For your reference, the following message has been provided by the Town's Contracted Hauler regarding driver shortfalls, COVID-related restrictions, and the impact in collection services most notably seen in the Town's recent Yard Waste Collections.
"Our workforce continues to be affected by COVID-related restrictions (quarantine and other) and the backdrop of the driver shortage has only exacerbated our ability to bring on the extra staff to overcome the pandemic-related strain. For waste companies, and other industries that rely on trucking, it has been difficult to hire full-time CDL Drivers and Technicians/Mechanics. Nationally, and in Massachusetts specifically, the labor market is extremely competitive while at the same time there is a shortage of experienced CDL drivers. For the past year, the driver shortage and corresponding service issues have been exacerbated by occasional labor disruptions due to the pandemic.
Waste Management is actively working to address the overall driver shortage by:
- Offering signing bonuses for hard-to-fill permanent jobs including Drivers and Technicians.
- Increasing our Employee Referral bonus.
In addition, Waste Management is holding career days later this month at our hauling sites across the country to interview and hire CDL drivers and diesel technicians. Our West Boylston hauling site, which provides collection trucks to service the Town of Shrewsbury, is holding on-site interviews as part of the career day on May 21 from 8am to 4pm.
The trade organization National Waste and Recycling Association (NWRA) provides further information on this same topic in the following article:
https://www.wastetodaymagazine.com/article/nwra-supports-drive-safe-act/ "