Selma garbage collection firm says delays to be caught up by Monday

Selma residents experiencing delayed garbage collection should see service return to schedule by the end of Monday, according to the city’s current waste collection provider.

Martin Environmental CEO Brandon D. Hurst told Black Belt News Network on Monday that the delays were caused by a combination of equipment and staffing issues, along with the Labor Day holiday.

One of the garbage trucks assigned to Selma was destroyed in a fire, forcing the company to bring in trucks from other Alabama locations to assist with collection. Hurst said crews are expected to be caught up by the end of the day Monday.

“Despite these challenges, Martin Environmental has not stopped collecting residential trash in the City of Selma,” Hurst said in an email. “Other than the holiday interruption, our crews have continued working each day. Because of the equipment and personnel limitations, we have been moving through some areas of the city more slowly than we normally would, but crews are actively collecting in the city each service day.”

Hurst said crews will make “every reasonable effort” to collect accumulated household garbage that does not fit inside the provided container. Residents should make sure additional garbage does not block the primary Martin Environmental container so collection equipment can access it.

“We understand the frustration that delayed collection causes, particularly when trash begins accumulating at a residence. We apologize to the residents who have experienced these delays,” Hurst said.

Residents who believe their home has been missed or who have not received service by the end of Monday can email their name and service address to customerservice@martinenvironmentalsvcs.com.

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“Email will provide the fastest way for our team to document the location and get the information directly to our operations staff,” Hurst said.

Martin Environmental’s contract with the City of Selma ends Sept. 30. Preferred Waste Services is scheduled to take over garbage collection Oct. 1. Martin Environmental was among the companies that submitted bids to continue providing the service.

With its contract nearing an end, Hurst said Martin Environmental remains committed to completing its work in Selma.

“Our intention is to finish our service the same way we began it: by doing everything reasonably within our control to serve the residents of Selma,” Hurst said. “Our contract may be approaching its conclusion, but our responsibility to provide service does not end until the contract does.”

“We appreciate the patience of Selma residents while our crews work to get every route caught up and maintain service through the remainder of our contract,” he added.

BBNN Associate Publisher Brad Fisher contributed to this report.