Dive Brief:

• Inefficient work has created a financial issue in Cleveland, OH, as the city paid nearly $1.3 million in overtime in 2015 to compensate some workers for picking up their colleagues' slack.
• The overtime expenses amounted to 274% of what the city originally budgeted for the waste department. 
• City Finance Director Sharon Dumas blamed the issue on "absenteeism," and explained that five employees were fired for failing to show up to work. However, some council members argue that the issues are more deeply rooted, signifying mismanagement in the department. 

Dive Insight:

Unfortunately, Cleveland is not the only city that has experienced very similar problems. As reported today, some haulers in Orange County, FL have been working overtime to compensate for incorrect or inefficient work in the area. Other cities, like Los Angeles, have been experiencing collection negligence since 2010. 

Cleveland City Councilman Michael Polensek explained to Cleveland.com that some waste collection workers have "painted a horror story of not having enough people or equipment."

"A 274% increase in overtime should be sending rockets off and flares that something is terribly wrong in waste collection," Polensek said. "What is not working here in this vital division?"

The issue does not only affect hardworking trash haulers who need to complete missed pickups, but also the residents that are being neglected due to the inefficiencies. While a few workers have already lost their jobs, some city officials have suggested firing more haulers as a way to get the problem under control.