Budget Cuts Mean State Employees Dumping Own Trash, Bathrooms Cleaned Less Frequently

As lawmakers crunch numbers to balance the budget, state workers now have a new chore – dumping their own trash.

By having workers dump their own cans to common bins , Texas expects to save almost one million dollars a year.

But some employees we spoke to tell us they could be making better use of their time.

“It happened very quickly, from one day to another all the trash cans were removed and we were left with these two, ” said Mari Lopez with the state’s Adult Protective Services agency.

For about a month, state employees have been trying to get used to the mini max program.

“We have to throw our own trash,” said Lopez.

Their trash cans have been replaced by miniature trash cans and recycling bins.

“Everybody forgets to throw their trash,” Lopez said. She said some are still getting used to the idea. And she’s learned never to leave food over night. “People who have stuff in the refrigerator that later on they throw it away and it sits there at least a day and a half before they come and pick it up.”

The state’s facilities commission cut back custodial services from night time to only daytime cleaning.

“You don’t want your office to smell, so whatever you ate that day you have to be conscious enough and say ‘OK, I’ve got to throw my trash, ” said Lopez.

The state’s spending about $195,000 for the smaller and larger bins and individual plastic bags given to every employee.

Lopez said that money and her time could be better spent, “Because I’m always thinking about the trash, at the end of the day. ‘Oh, I got to go throw my trash.'”

Most employees ABC-7 spoke with, who did not want to go on camera, said the new program stinks.

“It’s something else to do on a daily basis,” said Lopez.

Trash cans aren’t the only cut backs.

The bathrooms inside the state building are also only getting cleaned three times a week instead of five.