2022-002 COVID Impacts on SW ServicesDate: January 7, 2022 Report No. 2022-002
INFORMAL STAFF REPORT
TO MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL
SUBJECT:
The Impact of COVID on Solid Waste & Equipment
BACKGROUND:
Since the COVID-19 outbreak began affecting the City of Denton and Cities across the nation,
employees have worked to maintain a core level of services for its residential and business
communities. As we are all aware with the outbreak of the Omicron variant, COVID is
significantly affecting the entire city with employees testing positive and unable to provide
essential services. Resultantly, departments are busy preparing and implementing the continuation
of operations plans to ensure core services are maintained while the health and safety of the
community are protected.
DISCUSSION:
The Solid Waste & Recycling Department (SWR) is committed to providing core services to
every customer on a scheduled service day. The effect of the recently identified Omicron
COVID variant, and anticipated future variants, on SWR hold the potential of requiring service
delays and suspensions of some core services. For example, should nine or more
operators/drivers be exposed and off at any given time, the below measures (listed by priority)
may be taken to ensure that a basic level of services are provided to our residential customers.
Eliminate bulk collection
Move yard waste collection to Fridays
Alternate weekly collections of yard waste and recycling
o (moving to twice per month vs. weekly)
Eliminate yard waste collection
Eliminate recycling collection
For commercial customers, delays are possible, but, if a critical mass of operators are absent, the
department will prioritize the collection of schools, hospitals, assisted living facilities, and
multifamily complexes.
As Fleet Maintenance is the sole service and repair provider for SWR vehicles, they are also
experiencing the effects of COVID among their staff, which means repairs can be delayed.
Additionally, as COVID is a global event, Fleet sources parts from vendors around the country.
Resultantly, some parts & supplies are on backorder and/or in short supply. Fleet Maintenance is
Date: January 7, 2022 Report No. 2022-002
working closely with these vendors to ensure parts that are available are expeditiously delivered.
When parts availability and delivery delays occur, Fleet Maintenance assesses each situation to
determine if the vehicle can be safely operated until the replacement part arrives and is installed.
If a DOT safety concern is identified, the vehicle will be parked, and repairs made once parts are
available. Fleet has made a commitment to prioritize the repairs of Solid Waste vehicles.
While Fleet Services continues working to maintain the viability of existing rolling stock, Solid
Waste and Recycling is expecting the arrival of several, new vehicles within the next 30 to 60
days. The purchase of these vehicles was approved as part of past budget approvals and will
allow the department to maintain a minimal amount of vehicles as well as create a small pool of
“back-up” equipment to support the inventory needed to provide service.
Solid Waste and Recycling is making every effort to ensure our employees remain safe and
healthy. In addition to providing face masks and working to enforce continued usage, as
appropriate, we are having constant conversations regarding social distancing and maintaining
personal hygiene, every vehicle is spot cleaned after each shift. In the event, a team member tests
positive for COVID, they are immediately sent home and their assigned vehicle or workspace is
thoroughly sanitized.
Should service interruptions be required, the City will utilize all avenues of outreach to
communicate changes to our solid waste customers. Similarly, a notice of service interruption
will be sent to the Mayor, Council Members, and City Leadership. Suspended services will be
re-established as critical staffing levels are recovered.
STAFF CONTACT:
Brian Boerner, Solid Waste Director,
Eugene McKinnie, Deputy Director Solid Waste and Recycling
REQUESTOR:
Staff Initiated