UPDATE: The city of Fairbanks has resumed trash collection as of January 8, 2024, following a brief suspension due to extreme cold temperatures. As temperatures finally eased, local heroes stepped up, including the Lathrop High School football team and Golden Heart Waste Management. Together, they tackled the community’s trash problem, picking up an astounding 19,000 pounds of waste by Monday evening.
With temperatures hitting a brutal 40 degrees below zero last week, trash collection was halted, leaving piles of garbage across the city. John Thies, owner of Golden Heart Waste Management, volunteered his services alongside Lathrop’s football players, showing extraordinary community spirit. Thies stated, “We have the ability to help. As community members, it’s only right to help out where we can.”
In a remarkable display of teamwork, Luke Balash, Lathrop’s head football coach, reported that within just half an hour of reaching out, a group of enthusiastic volunteers was ready to work. “I anticipated some hesitation with the cold temps and it being the last two days of winter break, but our team came together,” Balash said.
Fairbanks Mayor Mindy O’Neall expressed her gratitude to those involved, emphasizing the importance of public service during challenging times. “I’m really thankful they are thinking about public service in this way and that they want to help out their fellow city residents,” O’Neall remarked.
As city crews resume their regular trash pickup routes, they are prioritizing Tuesday and Wednesday collections. An official notice from the city outlined the plan: “Crews will branch out to other neighborhoods and collect any garbage that is curbside.” The effort will extend through the week, even on typically unscheduled days, to catch up on the backlog.
The Fairbanks North Star Borough is also facing challenges, with transfer sites overwhelmed and overflowing. Kuba Grzeda, Chief of Staff for the borough, confirmed that equipment failures due to the severe cold exacerbated the situation, leading to a request for extended landfill hours to manage the excess waste.
“Like others in the area, our transfer site contractor had equipment issues in the cold,” Grzeda reported. “We are accommodating their request and will continue to monitor the condition of the sites.”
This community effort not only highlights the resilience of Fairbanks residents but also underscores the importance of collaboration in overcoming challenges. As the city works diligently to restore normal services, residents are reminded to remain patient and supportive during this critical period.
Stay tuned for further updates as the situation develops, and share this story to highlight the incredible community spirit in Fairbanks!
