NEW YORK (WCBS 880) -- Garbage is piling up outside homes in Hempstead, Long Island as homebound residents are doing projects like spring cleaning.
Theresa Kohutka, President of CSEA Local 880, is asking residents in the town of Hempstead to put the garbage out to the curb a little bit at a time to protect sanitation workers.
"All of this extra garbage constantly, it's rough on the shoulders" she said. "If we lose a few drivers, it's going to be very difficult to make up all their routes."
She told WCBS 880's Sophia Hall that the amount of garbage looks similar to after Superstorm Sandy.
"Now, if they have an overload, they have to come back, dump, and go back to their route," Kohutka said. "We're trying to avoid as much contact as possible between the driver and the helpers."
Right now, only two are workers are allowed per truck for safety reasons, rather than the typical three. The third worker now follows the truck in their personal vehicle, and all workers wear gloves and masks.