It also may be combined, according to residents.

The Philadelphia Streets Department Commissioner Carlton Williams announced that they are experiencing trash and recycling delays due to the recent COVID-19 surge. The department cannot provide a specific number of days that they will be behind due to the fluctuation of employees.

However, the Streets Department is also encouraging residents to set out trash and recycling on their regular collection day. They also are encouraging residents to check the progress of collections on their block by licking “PickupPHL” on the StreetSmart website.

We anticipates collection delays citywide for the week of January 3. We foresee these challenges moving into the following weeks as we work through COVID-19 infections and quarantining in our workforce. pic.twitter.com/Xar5L1AtJ3

— philastreets (@PhilaStreets) January 4, 2022

According to residents on Twitter (and my own account by looking out my window), trash and recycling are being combined in neighborhoods across the city. The Streets Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Read more: Green Philly has previously covered problems (and blame) for trash and recycling delays within the Streets Department, between the weather, COVID-19 and home projects.

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Julie Hancher is Editor-in-Chief of Green Philly, sharing her expertise of all things sustainable in the city of brotherly love. She enjoys long walks in the park with local beer and greening her travels, cooking & cat, Sir Floofus Drake. View all posts by Julie Hancher