LAFAYETTE, La. (Jan. 12, 2024) – During his service on the former Lafayette City-Parish Council, current District 5 City Councilman Kenneth Boudreaux authored Resolution No. R-010-2019 to declare the suspension of residential garbage and recycling service on the Martin Luther King, Jr. (MLK) holiday within the City of Lafayette and the unincorporated parts of Lafayette Parish, which was adopted with unanimous support. Further, the resolution not only underscored the observation of the MLK holiday by Lafayette Consolidated Government (LCG), but it also encouraged public participation in service and celebratory activities associated with the holiday. Councilman Boudreaux sought to impress the significance of the holiday upon the public, but particularly upon LCG’s solid waste contractor and to inspire the contractor to relieve its employees of duty on that day for the promotion of their participation in public activities and programming throughout the community.
With weather forecasts predicting extremely low temperatures and hard freeze advisories next week, combined with possible precipitation on Monday evening that could potentially result in icy conditions, Councilman Boudreaux, LCG administration officials, and leadership of the current solid waste contractor – Acadiana Waste Services (AWS) – agreed that, for the abundance of safety, the regular schedule for solid waste collection in the City of Lafayette and the unincorporated parts of Lafayette Parish will be unaffected for the week of Monday, January 15, 2024 through Friday, January 19, 2024. In the event that service would need to be suspended due to hazardous road conditions on any day of the week subsequent to Monday, allowing service to be rendered on Monday would result in minimal collection interruptions throughout the week. “Public participation in MLK holiday activities and service programs pay tremendous tribute to the life and legacy of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., so suspending solid waste collection on the MLK holiday has been befitting for us because it also pays homage to sanitation workers who belong to the same industry for which Dr. King fought in advocacy during the Memphis, Tennessee sanitation strike in 1968,” said Boudreaux. “However, this year poses potential weather conditions that warrant us responsibly erring on the side of caution for safety, for the protection of our people, and for the effective operation of our solid waste collection process; but, be assured that under safe conditions, we commit to resuming suspended Monday service for the week of the 2025 MLK holiday,” he added.
In light of the safety and operational concerns expressed, AWS President Gus Dugas agrees with the decision to observe the regular weekly collection schedule throughout LCG’s jurisdiction. “AWS joins with LCG and acknowledges the significance of the MLK holiday to residents and public officials across Lafayette Parish, as well as to our AWS team,” said Dugas. “We also understand the symbolic importance of observing the relevance of the holiday to our business and industry, but safety and service deliverables must be of utmost importance in how we approach this year’s celebration due to the unsavory winter weather conditions predicted for next week,” he continued. Dugas, too, anticipates observing the intent expressed in the 2019 resolution for the 2025 MLK holiday.
Information affirming next week’s solid waste collection schedule and other LCG services that could be impacted by the MLK holiday may be separately forthcoming, but please be especially advised that solid waste collection will proceed as normal. Councilman Boudreaux wishes to extend his best wishes to all citizens in observation of the 2024 MLK holiday and encourages widespread participation in programs and service activities.
