• Stella Taylor lives in north Omaha. She suffered a torn meniscus in April and was admitted to the Special Collections Service in Omaha.
• The city removed her from the list and requires her to put her trash out on the curb. Stella says she was never officially informed that she was no longer on the list.

TRANSCRIPT OF THE MISSION:

Omaha’s Special Collections Service helps elderly and disabled neighbors living alone get rid of their trash without putting it on the curb.

I’m Melissa Wright and I live in north Omaha. I met a neighbor who tells me that before it became irregular, her trash was always picked up without being left on the ground. Now she wants answers.

Stella Taylor lives in north Omaha. A few months ago she tore her meniscus and had to undergo knee surgery. She is now unable to work and can go about her daily life.

“My doctor put me on a waiting list because I can’t move or walk properly without a cane. So I was put on a special waiting list and they were supposed to pick up the cane from the side of the house,” Taylor said.

In early April, Taylor was put on the special collections list. She says they stopped picking up trash from the side of her house in late April.

“It’s frustrating to me because like I said, they pick up my recyclables from the side, but they don’t pick up my garbage… what’s the difference? It’s the same company, FCC Waste Environment, so when they pick up my recyclables, it’s lighter than my garbage,” Taylor said.

According to FCC Environmental Services, Taylor was removed from the list because she has someone who can help her take her trash to the curb.

“A friend of mine works at the FCC and would come and pick up the trash. It’s not fair for someone to pick up my trash when they’re supposed to,” Taylor said.

Taylor says she was never officially notified and has called the FCC and the mayor’s hotline over the months to get answers and a solution.

“I mean… I’m a citizen, this isn’t fair,” Taylor said.

FCC Environmental Services says they do not decide who is on this list and who is not. FCC recommends neighbors who have problems or want to be placed on this list contact the city at 402-444-5238.