Winston-Salem, NC -- A loaded, 96-gallon, trash bin sat by the roadside off Sunburst Circle in Winston Salem for a week.
And for a week, LuAnn Foutz called the city almost every day to get it picked up. Foutz is one of many Winston-Salem homeoowners who've chosen to participate in the city's recycling program.
The program recently changed to a new system which gave residents larger bins to replace the small18-gallon bins.
The bigger bins allows for less frequent pickups - which are now bi-monthly.
The city says the program has required a bit of an adjustment for homeowners and new Waste Management drivers who are learning new routes.
In fact, Waste Management Route Manager Tige Harrington says calls have increased 10-fold; some coming from confused residents about the new process and others coming from people like LuAnn, frustrated about the service.
"All I wanted to do was have my recycle picked up," she said.
But instead it has been the longest 48 hours in her recycling life.
She and her neighbors' recycling bins were supposed to have been emptied on April 9th.
When it wasn't, LuAnn says she called the city to complain.
She was told it would take 48 hours for her request to be completed.
But instead it took days as her bin sat curbside, completely full, lid half open and overflowing.
LuAnn even had to stuff some into plastic bags.
"If you want me to recycle all you need to do is come out and pick it up. If not, what's the use?" LuAnn asked rhetorically.
Her neighbor, Frank Caloway, says at one point, there was even a moment of hope.
"A guy came by to line [the bins] up so they can pick them up, but they never did," Calloway said.
The initial 48 hours turned into days and LuAnn and her neighbors waited.
"We had all that wind last weekend; we chased recycle stuff all weekend," she said
After a week of no response, News 2 called the city for answers and within an hour, the city sent crews to Sunburst Circle.
"It's about time," LuAnn said while watching truck operators empty her bin.
According to Harrington, Waste Management takes all complaints seriously, regardless of whether it's from news reporters.
"This one may have been something that we may have overlooked or didn't step up on as fast as we did today," he said about LuAnn's situation.
Harrington couldn't explain how the small street never got service but says new drivers and unfamiliar routes could be to blame - and they're sorting it all out
"I'm glad they came," Caloway said after wheeling his now empty bin back to his yard.
A skeptical LuAnn said, she too is glad the problem has been resolved but, "We'll see if they show up on Monday like they are supposed to," she said.
Waste Management says another common issue they are dealing with is cart placement. Some homeowners are putting their bins on the wrong side of the street and that slows down pick-up.
They are working to educate everyone on that so they can get back to provising the service residents are used to - and deserve.
If you have any issues with your recycling in Winston Salem, they say feel free to let them know. Click here to find their information.
WFMY News 2