Staffing issues impacting waste collection as company recruits for more drivers
Simcoe County’s curbside waste collection contractor has had problems keeping to its weekly pick-up schedule, including not completing routes until the next day, “due to an accute employee shortage,” according to an update to County councillors.
Progressive Waste Solutions (PWS), which was awarded a seven year collection contract starting in 2013 for waste, and green bin collections across all 16 municipalities, is experiencing a myriad of issues with its staff including “injuries, scheduled vacations, resignations and other losses combined with absenteeism have seriously depleted both the regular and standby pool of drivers.”
Despite PWS increasing its wages, and benefits package et al, it continues to experience problems recruting new drivers. It’s currently advertising for new collectors, but even those hires have to go through training before they’re able to take on collection routes.
“Progressive’s intensive recruitment efforts are ongoing, however, staff anticipates that the issue of late and sometimes incomplete collections will not be fully resolved for some weeks, potentially into the fall, due to the time required to hire, screen and train new drivers to the point that they are able to operate on their own,” according to the County report. “We are aware that the available drivers are working very hard, often in extreme heat, and very long hours in order to meet the commitment for service required. “
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