COVID-19 outbreak at Baltimore sanitation yard leads to service suspensions

Following a coronavirus outbreak at Baltimore’s Eastern Sanitation Yard, the city’s Department of Public Works (DPW) announced the immediate suspension of all solid waste operations for three weeks.

Matthew Garbark, acting director of the DPW, said effective June 10 all operations from the east side solid waste yard will be suspended so employees can stay home and self-isolate. According to The Baltimore Sun, fifteen sanitation workers have tested positive for the virus, including seven at the east side location. Twenty will be isolating at home.

“DPW is shutting down all operations at the [Eastern] Sanitation Facility out of an abundance of caution to protect our solid waste workforce. We are working closely with employees and their families to protect their health during this difficult time,” Garbark said in a release. The facility had previously been closed to the public since March due to COVID-19.

To divert crews to handle essential sanitation duties, Garbark also announced a citywide suspension of curbside recycling collections for three weeks. John Chalmers, head of the city’s Bureau of Solid Waste, said residents can drop off their recycling or bulk trash at certain locations as the agency works to provide services through the pandemic

While trash collection is expected to continue uninterrupted, Chalmers added that residents may see some delays to their usual pickup schedules.

“We ask you to be patient,” Chalmers told City Council, explaining that the crews may be working in areas or jobs they are unfamiliar with. “We have to take these measures. The human capital that we have, those employees are near and dear to us.”

Residents can expect all trash collection delays to be resolved no later than June 13.