Prince George's County residents meet over trash pick-up problems

PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY, Md. — Whether trash pick-up day is Tuesday or Friday, several people who live in Prince George's County say it doesn't actually get picked up until days later.

"It just makes your neighborhood look trashy," said Gabriel Njinimbot. "Just imagine how your neighborhood looks like with trash cans lined up from up the street all the way down."

Another neighbor says it is especially noticeable on hot days. 

"It caused issues with the smells going into the community as you can imagine," she explained. 

Prince George's County District Six Councilmember Wala Blegay held a meeting on Monday night to hear those concerns. She says even she isn't immune to this mess. 

"There's been missed days of trash pick-up, compost pick-up, recycling pick-up, yard waste pick-up, there has been leaving of trash on the ground, residue. I've actually seen that myself," she explained. 

She shared what she learned Monday morning at a meeting with the County Executive's office. She knew neighbors came looking for answers and solutions. Blegay says she was told that contractors with the Department of the Environment changed over the summer, so there was some confusion with trash routes in July. 

But she says this is a bare minimum that the county should take care of.

"It goes into quality of life, people pay high taxes here in PG County and the least that people want you to do is pick up the trash," she said. 

In the meantime, residents who have complained to lawmakers in the past, say they feel like their voices aren't being heard. 

"I just feel like I don't know if they're taking it seriously or not," said Njinimbot.

"It makes me feel like people don't care," said Dee McGee, who also attended the meeting.  

They say people who live in Prince George's County deserve better. 

"I think it's one of the most basic things that we need in Prince George's County," said Njinimbot, "keep Prince George's County clean, you know?"

"We want to just continue to be gorgeous Prince George's County that it's been in the past," said McGee.

Councilmember Blegay says she plans to make sure the County holds those new contractors accountable through fine violations because hurting their pockets will hopefully force them to be more responsible.