Shreveport, La. – In response to resident complaints about slow bulky‑waste pickups, the City of Shreveport is bringing in outside help to clear the backlog. The municipality announced that it has hired Good Hope Recovery, a regional waste‑removal contractor, to assist Solid Waste crews for roughly three weeks.

Why the extra help was needed

City officials said recent weeks have been challenging for Solid Waste crews because of a shortage of drivers. The shortage has delayed the collection of large household items that are picked up separately from regular garbage, leaving many neighborhoods with piles of unwanted furniture, appliances and other bulky items along the curb.

What the contract entails

Good Hope Recovery will deploy three large trucks and make one coordinated pass through each neighborhood. After the contractor’s trucks have cleared the streets, any items left at the curb will be collected later by city crews as their workload permits. The work is scheduled to begin on Monday, Oct. 5, and will run for about three weeks.

Cost and funding

The contract is valued at approximately $100,000 and will be paid from the city’s Solid Waste budget. The city emphasized that the expense is a short‑term investment to restore normal service levels and keep the streets looking tidy.

Official comments

Public Works Director Jarvis Morgan said, “We have heard from our citizens that the bulk pickup process has been taking too long. The Good Hope workers will help us get back to normal soon and make our city look better.”

What residents need to know

The city reminded residents that certain items cannot be collected, including tires, hazardous materials, liquid waste, construction debris and anything discarded by a contractor. Residents with questions or who need to request a bulk pickup can call Public Works at 318‑673‑6330.

Looking ahead

City leaders hope the temporary partnership will clear the current backlog and give Solid Waste crews the breathing room to return to their regular schedule. By addressing the driver shortage with a short‑term contractor, Shreveport aims to maintain reliable service while it works on longer‑term staffing solutions.

Original reporting: KTBS 3 (Shreveport) — read the source article.