Syracuse, NY Sees Safety Success with Cart Roll-Out Program, Looks to Follow Up with New Recycling Carts

Following its successful rollout of new waste carts that have protected waste collectors, the City of Syracuse, NY. is preparing to do the same with new recycling carts.

According to Conor Muldoon of the City of Syracuse Office of Analytics, before the new trash carts made it out to the city, waste collectors were experiencing more than 300 slip-and-fall accidents and general strains annually.

“It’s been a remarkable success from a safety perspective," Muldoon said. "Since the introduction of carts there have been no injuries that have required treatment related to carts and shoulder injuries across the board in the sanitation department have decreased from 17 per year to one per year and that one was not related to a cart.”

Now, the city wants to do the same with recycling carts that it hopes will get the city to increase its recycling rate.

“Our recycling rate right now is about 12%," said Ann Fordock, of the Department of Public Works.

"So that means out of the total solid waste produced, about 12% of that is recyclables and the rest is trash. And the national average is around 30, 33% for recycling rate. So, we have a long way to go.”

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