Trash Haulers, Mail Carriers Play Catch Up After Blizzard

NewsOn6.com & Tara Vreeland, News On 6

TULSA, Oklahoma -- The City of Tulsa says trash crews began picking up trash across the city on Monday.

But that doesn't mean they'll be able to get to everyone.

With some neighborhood roads still a mess it's going to take workers longer to finish their routes.

The city of Tulsa says crews will not pick up any bags or trash cans that are even partially buried in the snow.

2/4/2011 Related Story: No Trash Service In Tulsa Saturday, City Announces

It's now a race against the clock to play catch up before the next storm.

"Just get after it. Hopefully by tomorrow we'll be caught up," Doug Hobbs, of Doug's Trash Services, said.

Doug said they are a few hours behind, but if everyone does their part, they'll be on par before the next storm.

Another challenge is the trek to deliver mail.

"When I go to bed at night, I'm pooped," said Reggie West, with the United States Postal Service. "Too pooped to do anything else besides go to sleep and wait for the next one."

The United States Postal Service is trying to get your mail to you. But it says if roads are impassable, it may remain undeliverable.

"I've been stuck once today," West said.

The postal service asks that you make it easier and safer for mail carriers by shoveling a path to your mail boxes.

"The bills keep coming. They don't care," said Charles Tompkins.

Whether hauling trash or hauling letters, going that extra mile through winter's worst is just another day on the job.

"These people need their medicine, they need their checks, we've gotta put a little extra in there and get these people taken care of," one mail carrier said. "It makes it all worthwhile at the end of the day."

Some people ask if they can pick up mail themselves, but you would have to put your mail on hold because carriers leave before the post office even opens.

The City of Tulsa said 99.6 percent of customers on the Monday/Thursday trash pickup schedule received trash service Monday.  Customers who did not recieve service on Monday will have their trashed picked up on Tuesday.