TOLEDO, Ohio — The city of Toledo and Republic Services are accused of threatening to charge residents for monthly free bulk pickup offered by the city.
Toledo residents can schedule bulk pick up of items once a month. But Melinda Scott, who reached out to Call 11 for Action, said she was told she would be charged for something that's not her fault: double parking on her street.
"I called for a pickup," Scott said. "It was Memorial Day weekend."
Scott lives on O'Connell Street, which dead ends into trees and permits parking on both sides of the road.
Scott said when she called Engage Toledo about why her May 30 bulk pickup wasn't complete, she was told an attempt was made.
"They said they made an attempt, but my camera didn't catch it and I didn't see it," she said.
"Double parking on both sides, they can't fit the vehicle through, because sometimes, the one big vehicle is on that side and there will be trucks on this side," Scott added.
Still, she was shocked when she was told she'd have to pay for this free service.
"They said they made two attempts. They only allow two attempts and then after that you have to pay for it," Scott said.
Scott said she has also had trouble getting her trash collected and came to Call 11 for Action hoping to get this resolved.
"Either for them to keep trying to get it free of charge or have one side parking certain days of the week," Scott said.
Call 11 for Action reached out to the city which did arrange for the pickup that same day. Republic Services did not know who told Scott she would be charged and clarified that she would not.
"Residents are not charged for a return bulk pickup when there is an obstruction blocking our collection vehicle from gaining access," said Melissa Quillard, senior manager of external communications for Republic Services.
Quillard acknowledged that this seems to be a repeated problem in the area.
"We are working with the city to address repeated access issues in this area," she added.
The city also said it will look into whether double parking should be allowed on that street.
"We will send an engineer out to evaluate the possibility of no parking on one side and work with Republic Services to help in whatever way we can," said Rachel Hart, city of Toledo communications director.