Cape Girardeau recycling routes adjusted amid driver shortage, mechanical issues

Cape Girardeau Public Works has changed its recycling routes temporarily because of being two drivers short in its staff, and having one driver on vacation and another on military leave in its solid waste division.

Public Works announced it had to change its routes scheduled for Tuesday, July 9, and 16 and Aug. 6 to Wednesday, July 10, and 17 and Aug. 7.

In addition to being short-staffed, Public Works director Casey Brunke said the department has also had some mechanical issues with trucks.

“We were about at the time where we need to start looking at procuring a couple new trash trucks. We’re working with our City Hall and finance department about that, but we just got into our current fiscal year,” she said.

Brunke said there is a long lead time to get new trash trucks made for the department. If they were ordered today, they would not arrive until next fiscal year.

She said two new workers have started recently, but they are still being trained.

“You can’t just send a new person in the automated truck and send them out on a route. They’ve got to be trained up in the equipment and stuff,” Brunke said.

She also added that Public Works across all its departments currently has nine openings. Brunke said while the openings have affected them, it’s not the most they’ve had.

For more alerts or updates on city services such as recycling/trash route changes or boil-water alerts, visit www.cityofcape.org/getalerts.