A north St. Louis resident says city trash trucks have been leaving foul-smelling liquid and stains on neighborhood streets for six weeks.
The problem is happening in the North Pointe neighborhood, where Judy Parker has lived for more than 50 years. She told First Alert 4 that the smell has made it harder to sit on her porch in the morning.
Parker said the stains appear after trash and recycling collection days.
She and her family have taken photos and videos each week after trucks come through the area.
The Resident Says The Stains Follow Collection Days
Parker walked block by block with First Alert 4, pointing out marks she said appear after city trash trucks collect waste in the neighborhood. She described the smell as similar to garbage or a waste pit.
Parker said she contacted the Citizens Service Bureau, the mayor’s office, and her neighborhood stabilization officer multiple times before the city offered an explanation.
The City Says Trucks Will Be Inspected
After First Alert 4 raised questions, the city said the refuse trucks would be inspected as soon as Wednesday evening. If faulty seals are found, the city said they will be replaced.
The city also said it is investigating whether improperly discarded liquid waste could be contributing to the problem. The Streets Department said the trucks on Parker’s street are mostly residential.
Photos And Exact Locations Can Help A Complaint
The City of St. Louis says residents filing a service request should provide the exact street address where a problem is happening, or the intersection if that better identifies the location.
The city’s Citizens Service Bureau gives residents a service request number and routes the complaint to the department expected to respond.
For now, the liquid has not been identified. Parker reported the smell and stains, and the city said it would inspect the trucks.