If you were watching closely at the recent Perry Fourth of July Parade, you may have noticed one of the Public Works Department’s newest acquisitions.

The City showed off a new garbage truck during the parade, which they hope will streamline the collection process while cutting down on workplace injuries. Public Works Director Jack Butler says the truck they showed off was the arm truck, and they also have a rear truck with two cart tippers in the back. To go along with the new trucks, the City is also supplying matching 95-gallon cans to all residents. Butler emphasizes with the cans, each one is assigned to the residence, not the homeowner. That means if a person were to move, they will need to leave their can with the house.

The cans should be delivered sometime in the next month, and the new trucks will then get to work. Butler knows that it will take some time for everyone, including his garbage collectors, to get used to the new equipment and systems. However, he says it will be worth it. “I think everybody’s excited about it. I know the guys are, they’re anxious to get this rolling. City staff’s anxious to get this going. And from the feedback I’m hearing from the homeowners, they’re pretty excited too because it’s a really good deal. And it’s the right thing to do.”

Butler adds, at least for the rest of this year, the garbage and recycle routes will not change, so residents will have the same pick-up days as they’ve had for the last several years. For more information, reach out to Perry City Hall at 515-465-2481.