North Charlotte Today

With school out for the summer and more children taking to the streets, it is an opportune time to revisit safety tips provided by the City of Charlotte’s Solid Waste Services.

Charlotte, the largest city in North Carolina with over 900,000 residents, relies on the staff at Solid Waste Services (SWS) to maintain cleanliness and beauty. Residents can contribute to ensuring that SWS sanitation engineers perform their duties safely and efficiently.

Residents are reminded to instruct their children to be cautious when playing outside if collection vehicles are present in their neighborhood. A safe distance of at least 50 feet from sanitation trucks should be maintained.

"We want to always keep people and property safe," a representative from SWS stated. Parking along the street complicates navigation for collection trucks, particularly in cul-de-sacs. If a driver cannot safely travel between parked cars, collecting materials may become impossible.

Awareness of neighborhood collection days is crucial; residents should avoid parking on the street during these times to facilitate smooth passage for collection trucks.

Many SWS crews work on foot, performing tasks such as pressure washing, litter pickup, changing bags in Uptown receptacles, and loading bulky waste into trucks. Sanitation engineers often need to maneuver carts away from obstacles. Drivers are urged to help ensure safety by staying alert while driving near these workers.

Drivers should remain fully focused on the road to protect not only Solid Waste Services workers but also all individuals in Charlotte. Avoiding distractions will enhance safety for everyone: children playing outside, workers maintaining city cleanliness, and all residents and visitors.

Solid Waste Services expressed gratitude towards #TeamCharlotte for prioritizing safety efforts.