Trash Collectors Now On "Waste Watch" In Allentown

Their job is to collect trash, but now Waste Management employees are helping police collect criminals.

Employees who work on residential routes in Allentown are on "Waste Watch."

From midnight until 8 a.m., when most people are asleep, the drivers are out on the road.

"I think this will be a tremendous added benefit and a real help to the Allentown police," said Mayor Ed Pawlowski.

"Waste Watch" is a partnership between Allentown and Waste Management.

Drivers on their regular routes collecting trash will now keep tabs on anything out of the ordinary.

"Such as several newspapers gathering at a person's home," said Shane Caswell. "Things that just don't look right. A broken into car, alarms going off."

Before the program was even in place, workers were already keeping an eye out.

"Several of their drivers actually have been involved in apprehending some graffiti artists that we had," said Pawlowski.

The Waste Watch program has proven successful in other cities across the country.

"Los Angeles, Chicago, Houston, Atlanta," said Caswell.

Over the last few weeks, all of the employees who work on residential routes in Allentown have received specialized training.

If they see something suspicious, they're asked to report back to a Waste Management dispatcher, helping to keep the city streets safe.