West Ashley, South Carolina – Taking out the garbage is a task for most people, but it may be a significant challenge for those who require additional assistance. There are programs offered, but one city resident reported that they are unreliable.
The trash collector comes by once a week. However, over the past year or so, one resident claims she has been frequently neglected.
Jackie Morfesis, a community advocate, told News 2 that her garbage collection service is irregular, resulting in weeks of debris stacking up outside her home.
“In the past three weeks, I was forgotten twice on regular trash pickup day,” she claimed. “I called to put in a request to have them come back, and they did not come back to pick up the trash.”
She is part of a city program that assists persons with physical disabilities. Environmental service staff collect her garbage can from a location near her home, removing the need for her to transport it to the curb. However, she stated that this is not always the case.
“The citizens of Charleston are offered a wonderful service for support with trash collection for those qualified, and they’re put on a list,” according to Morfesis. “However, they are routinely forgotten, necessitating repeated phone calls to the citizens’ service desk and also communication to the mayor’s office.”
She shared with News 2 an email chain in which she expressed concerns to the mayor’s office in February. Morfesis was told that the problem would be resolved, but the service has been erratic. She stated that she is not the only resident experiencing this situation.
“It’s the emotional frustration of having to plead your case when it’s just one more added layer to folks who are already dealing with other issues,” Morfesis told me.
We contacted the City of Charleston, and they issued us with a statement.
“At the City of Charleston, we are dedicated to providing dependable, polite service to all residents. We are aware of the problem with an aided (disability) rubbish pickup request; our team has contacted the resident and remedied the situation.”
“To prevent this from happening again, we will introduce a new software system on October 20, 2025, that will automatically flag and track assisted-collection accounts. We’re also evaluating our internal standard operating procedures. We apologize any inconvenience this has caused and welcome the opportunity to make things right.”
Morfesis expressed her hope that the city will prioritize this program for her and other citizens who require further assistance, since she is concerned about the issue’s long-term impact.
