Garbage and recyclables pile up as omicron takes its toll

People are understandably frustrated,” said Atlanta City Council member Liliana Bakhtiari.Atlanta officials said Monday that because of the worker shortage, recycling and yard waste will be picked up “as staffing allows.”Los Angeles said delays in the collection of recyclables could continue through the month.In Louisville, Kentucky, sanitation workers stopped picking up yard waste in early January until further notice. They city has not suspended any services.Harry Nespoli, president of the union local representing the city’s sanitation workers, said some are coming back after quarantining, while others are testing positive for the virus: “Right now it’s a swinging door.”In Philadelphia, sometimes called Filthadelphia because of the condition of its streets, around 10% to 15% of the 900-person sanitation workforce is out on any given day, leading to delays in waste collection, according to Streets Commissioner Carlton Williams.“When people are out, we can’t just hire to replace them,” he said.