Columbia moving up trash pickup due to heat

Trash and recycle pickup in Columbia will start at 5 a.m. on Friday in order to help workers stay out of the heat.

“It’s been almost 100 out there,” said Patricia Hayles, a spokesperson for Columbia Utilities. “So we think just moving it up would reduce the amount of time they would have to be outside.”

Residents can put their trash and recycle bags on the curb after 4 p.m. Thursday.

The city said workers have experienced several heat-related incidents this week. Hayles did not have information on a specific number of incidents or their severity. She said none of the incidents were serious.

“The workers’ health is the most important,” she said. “Taking care of them now is going to take care of everyone in the future.”