New Orleans Ushers In New High-Tech Semi-Automated Trash Collection

Mayor Nagin Hires Local, Minority Business Leaders To Use Technology In Waste Collection Services

By: Lesley Eugene
Senior Publicist

New Orleans has always been a celebrated fixture in national magazines and newsletters because of its many distinctive festivals, French Quarter Festival, Jazz and Heritage Festivals, Essence Festival, along with Mardi Gras, annual Sugar Bowl and Bayou Classic football events.

On August 29, 2005 the City of New Orleans became the center of attention for a different reason, around the world as residents and the local government struggled with the reality of a drowned city and the loss of friends and family members. This was a city with a permanent fixture in local and national newspapers and on national and international televisions.

After the devastation of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita and the flood waters that inundated 80% of the city, billions of tons of waste including over 15,000 damaged structures fell on the streets of New Orleans. The city’s Department of Sanitation focused on an enormous challenge. Veronica White, director of sanitation reached out to local neighborhood organizations and the United States Army Corp of Engineers (USACE) to help to rid New Orleans of the trash and waste left from Katrina and Rita.

The department was tasked with reorganizing their department to manage recovery needs and day-to-day critical needs to begin to re-create normal operations. The One New Orleans Tactical Trash Force was created to collect all that was categorized as ineligible debris/trash from the city’s streets and neighborhoods and to get back to weekly curbside collection.

“Katrina inundated New Orleans with millions of cubic yards of storm debris, and with more of our residents returning to rebuild their homes and their neighborhoods, we were seeing an increasing amount of debris pile up, and was positive that it would it continue through the end of the year,” said Mayor C. Ray Nagin. “We worked hard day and night to keep our city clean,” said Nagin.

Along with the pledge from Mayor Nagin and a priority set in the 2007 budget of $34 million(total general fund on Sanitation), local government officials committed to a cleaner city. Bids were issued based on performance, a first in the city. Three high-tech, local and minority owned businesses, Richards Disposal Inc., Metro Disposal Inc., and SDT L.L.C. Waste and Debris Services, won a public bid to get on board and help clean the city.

“This department’s main focus is creating a better, stronger and cleaner New Orleans. Our goal is to create a clean, livable environment for all New Orleanians through uniform regulations to better facilitate our trash collection efforts,” said Veronica White, Director of Sanitation.

The new vendors recently began servicing the city on January 1st utilizing technology and advertising to get citizens excited about a clean New Orleans. Ultra clean streets and the collection of solid waste from approximately 86,000 households and small businesses have been the talk of the town since Richard’s Disposal Inc., Metro Disposal Inc. and SDT Waste and Debris Services L.L.C. sealed the deal and began cleaning New Orleans.

“We are moving our city forward to a New Orleans that is cleaner, smarter and better than before. These contracts demonstrate the power of One New Orleans where local companies are thriving and driving the rebuilding of our city,” said Mayor C. Ray Nagin. “Our Sanitation Department is now in the position with qualified assistance to ensure that each household is given the best collection service possible.”

These companies are not just old school waste collectors, but have become as famous as the city they are servicing and the French Quarter and the Central Business District. Visitors from around the nation travel to New Orleans to experience culture not seen anywhere else, which is also a part of this new service. SDT Waste and Debris Services, L.L.C. jumped out into the media producing its own “clean the quarter” campaign using local renowned musicians equipped with second liners on Canal Street to promote the technology savvy service. Residents and small business owners throughout the city received semi-automated collection services of solid, bulky and woody waste. The French Quarter and the city’s Central Business District receive services that include placement and maintenance of litter cans, mechanical sidewalk sweeping and street and sidewalk power washing.

The vendors also provide each resident and small business owner with one 96-gallon and 32-gallon state-of-the-art trash cart that will provide quality collection capability and are made of durable, extra strength, injection – molded plastic. The carts are equipped with GPS tracking mechanisms and feature a dual bottom wear strip, heavy-duty wheels and axels to ensure years of dependable service. These carts were delivered to over 70,000 registered New Orleanians with educational materials developed to instruct residents and business owners on the “do’s and don’ts” of waste disposal. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ’s) along with the answers, and a recycle directory for citizen usage were also featured inserts.

“Our residents have been extremely patient and we are grateful to our dedicated and hard working city employees who have been charged with this arduous task as we continue to secure more funding to expedite this recovery process and focus on improving the quality of life in our city,” said Dr. Brenda Hatfield, City of New Orleans Chief Administrative Officer.

During the most anticipated tourist attraction of the year, all three vendors received outstanding praise from local business owners and residents regarding the cleanliness and quick response to garbage collection during the opening days of the 151st Carnival Season in New Orleans. The Sanitation Department along with each vendor utilized their special task forces and worked over time to keep all carnival routes clean, while still maintaining their twice-a-week service in the city’s residential areas.

The French Quarter, one of the most difficult areas of the city to keep clean during the Carnival season, publicly announced its appreciation for the hard work of SDT. Residents and business owners from the French Quarter neighborhood have been interviewed recently on the local television stations as being highly satisfied with the performance of SDT.

“We’re focused on redeveloping New Orleans into an environment that is more conducive to the growth and success of small businesses, primarily the minority and women-owned businesses,” said Mayor Nagin. Our local small businesses and the entrepreneurs who create them are the lifeblood of our community and it is my hope that they will take the lead in rebuilding our great city!”

The company sent out its clean-up crews to work around the clock each day during the Mardi Gras weekend to keep up with the positive performance evaluations. “We are doing everything possible to keep this city clean,” said Veronica White, director of sanitation. “Our Sanitation Department greatly appreciates the assistance from Richard’s, Metro, and SDT as we pulled all of our resources together to make sure that everyone had a great time and experienced the cleanest Mardi Gras ever.

Although Hurricanes Katrina and Rita destroyed the city’s recycling vendor facility, it remains a priority. With assistance and guidance from the Green Project, Tulane University and MWH, a comprehensive recycling directory of places that reuse and recycle material in the Metro New Orleans area was developed for those still interested in recycling.

The Recycling Directory will help residents find locations that will accept recyclable goods. The Directory will be placed on the city's website at www.cityofno.com and will be distributed to citizens.

Meanwhile, during the most historic recovery this nation has ever experienced sanitation workers for the City of New Orleans, neighborhood task forces, volunteer organizations along with the Mayor of New Orleans work together day in and day out in reaching that goal of using technology in all areas of local government, including collecting trash!