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Area Sanitation Crews Working Overtime To Help Clean Up From Hurricane Sandy

By Michelle Durham

LOWER MERION, Pa (CBS) -- Crews in Montgomery County continued to work overtime on Monday in an effort to keep up with the collection of trash and limb and leaf collection.

Superstorm Sandy walloped the area and sanitation crews are bearing the brunt. The storm prevented them from collecting trash for a couple of days. On top of that, the storm left a trail of destruction. But workers say they can take anything Mother Nature chooses to dish out.

Public Works employees teamed up with sanitation crews to try to make a dent in the large amount of debris piled up curbside. Some crews used front end loaders and dump trucks to remove the limbs, leaves and sticks, and were more than happy to help.

"Because they are behind," says crew member Joe. "And after the storm, we got brush and trash all over the place. We are just going from neighborhood to neighborhood and picking it all up."

All of the limbs and tree debris added to residents having to throw away all of the contents of their refrigerators and freezers because they were without power so long.

"Insane. Insane," says sanitation worker Scott Keller. "The cans are full of food items and other stuff. And we missed two days."

The workers were simply asking residents to be patient as they attempted to clear away the debris, and to make the bags lighter, if possible, because by the end of the day, the heavy bags really take a toll on their back and arms.

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