Driving down Lakeshore Drive in Homewood today, I was met with an unsightly scene—piles of sticks, bags of leaves, remnants of Christmas boxes, and stray trash blown into the road. Suddenly, something shattered under my tire, exploding behind me and hitting not only my car but the vehicle behind me as well. This situation is beyond frustrating; it’s downright unacceptable. It can only be described as Trash Gate.

The Root of the Homewood Trash Debacle

The chaos stems from Homewood Alabama’s decision, under Mayor McCluskey’s administration, to revamp the city’s garbage collection services. In the third quarter of 2023, Homewood transitioned to AmWaste, aiming for improved trash collection. However, instead of a seamless switch, Homewood residents have been met with significant disruptions. Trash pickup has been inconsistent, leaving cans abandoned on curbs for weeks, while piles of brush—especially following the destructive tornado in early December—have remained uncollected, making our streets look neglected.

Adding to the issue, Homewood was the last of the “Over the Mountain” cities to contract with AmWaste. By the time the agreement was signed, surrounding areas had already integrated the service, leaving Homewood playing catch-up in managing this transition.

Eliminating Leaf Pickup: A Compounding Problem

As if the trash collection issues weren’t bad enough, the city of Homewood eliminated its leaf pickup service months before AmWaste took over. Now, residents are required to bag their leaves and place them on the curb for collection. While this may not be a major inconvenience for some, it is a significant burden for elderly residents or those with physical limitations. As someone who has had surgery, I can personally attest that this new requirement is frustrating and, for many, an impossible task to handle alone.

Streets Overflowing with Trash

A quick drive through Homewood paints an unfortunate picture—overflowing trash bins, abandoned cardboard boxes, and scattered debris at nearly every corner. It’s disheartening, to say the least. As a long-time Homewood resident, I find it embarrassing to see our community in such disarray.

Local Facebook groups, like What’s Happening in Homewood, have become a hub for frustrated residents venting about the ongoing trash issues. Countless posts document the struggle, with images of garbage piling up and complaints about missed collections. It’s clear that the frustration isn’t just mine—it’s a widespread sentiment among Homewood residents.

The Holiday Trash Crisis

The problem reached its peak during the holiday season when residents found themselves overwhelmed with excess trash and nowhere to put it. With family and guests arriving for Christmas celebrations, homeowners grew increasingly anxious about the unsightly mess taking over their neighborhoods.

One resident even shared on social media that homes with alleyway access have had their trash completely neglected because AmWaste trucks have been unable to navigate through the buildup of uncollected waste. To make matters worse, AmWaste cited the increase in online shopping and excessive cardboard disposal as a contributing factor to the crisis. However, this excuse doesn’t hold up—residents have been heavily reliant on online shopping since the pandemic began three years ago. The problem isn’t new; it’s just been mishandled.

What’s Next for Homewood?

As the Homewood trash debacle continues, residents are demanding accountability. The city and AmWaste must come up with a sustainable solution to ensure our streets remain clean and our garbage collection services operate efficiently. Until then, Homewood remains caught in the mess—quite literally.