County distributes 4,300 trash carts in effort to deal with rodents

Baltimore County officials believe they have a solution to an ongoing rat and mouse problem in the Essex area. Baltimore County Executive Secretary Johnny Olszewski, along with officials from the Department of Public Works and Transportation, on Thursday announced a new pilot program to distribute high-quality garbage trucks to select neighborhoods. What county officials call garbage trucks are actually large 65-gallon trash cans fitted with lids and wheels. Olszewski went door to door in Essex on Thursday to deliver some of the 4,300 garbage trucks to residents. Olszewski and district officials met with residents last year to discuss community concerns. In addition to public safety, rat infestations and loose litter were high on the list. “Rats and mice are running around, even during the day,” said Walter Akehurst from Essex A big step in the right direction. “It’s covered, it’s a bigger can. Maybe the trash isn’t hanging out, you know, so they can’t get in,” Akehurst said. “That will help where more people are going to have litter cans and it will keep the rodents from coming out and messing with the bins and all that,” said Tony Pegues, from Essex. DPWT used $380,000 in American Recovery Plan funds to pay for the program. The garbage trucks are made available to local residents free of charge and are to be used for household waste. Local residents said they hope the garbage trucks will make a big difference. “I have a screened in porch. We had to eat through (rodents) We have bins. We’ve got them covered. But not everyone, and I think that’s what attracts them,” said Steve Xintas of Essex. If this pilot program proves successful, county officials said they will consider expanding it to other Baltimore County neighborhoods.

ESSEX, Md. —

Baltimore County officials believe they have a solution to an ongoing rat and mouse problem in the Essex area.

Baltimore County executive Johnny Olszewski, along with officials from the Department of Works and Transportation, announced Thursday a new pilot program to distribute high-quality garbage trucks to select neighborhoods.

What county officials call garbage trucks are actually large 65-gallon trash cans fitted with lids and wheels. Olszewski went door to door in Essex on Thursday to deliver some of the 4,300 refuse trucks to residents.

“These neighborhoods were chosen as part of a targeted pilot program for safer, more efficient and more environmentally friendly management of our waste,” Olszewski said.

Olszewski and district officials met with residents last year to discuss community concerns. In addition to public safety, rat infestations and loose litter were at the top of the list.

“Rats, mice, they’re running around, even during the day,” said Walter Akehurst from Essex.

Local residents told 11 News the new garbage trucks are a big step in the right direction.

“It’s covered, it’s a bigger can. Maybe the trash isn’t hanging out, you know, so they can’t get in,” Akehurst said.

“This will help where more people have bins and it will stop the rodents from coming out and messing with the bins and all that,” said Tony Pegues from Essex.

DPWT used $380,000 in American Recovery Plan funds to pay for the program. The garbage trucks are available to residents free of charge and are to be used for household waste.

Local residents said they hope the garbage trucks will make a big difference.

“I have a screened in porch. We ate (rodents) right through the shield. We had trash cans. We’ve got them covered. ‘ said Steve Xintas from Essex.

If this pilot program proves successful, county officials said they will consider expanding it to other Baltimore County neighborhoods.