Most of us probably do not think about Public Works until the trash is late, a sidewalk needs repair, or a pile of yard waste is sitting by the curb. But the department’s work touches almost every Apex resident almost every day. That was one of the biggest takeaways when John Mullis, Director of Public Works for the Town of Apex, recently joined the Apex Lions Club to give us a behind-the-scenes look at everything his department does. And “everything” covers a lot of ground.
More Than Trash Collection
Solid waste may be one of the most visible Public Works services. It includes trash collection, recycling, bulk collection and yard waste. John told us that more than 78,000 stops are made each week. That number alone caught our attention.
Then the statistics kept coming. Among the figures John shared, Apex processed approximately 20,000 tons of trash last year. The Town’s fleet logged more than 3 million miles. Public Works handled 563 calls involving sidewalk trip hazards. Yard waste collection alone reaches more than 26,000 homes using approximately 60 routes each week. Did you know that some of the large trucks doing all that work get only about 3 miles per gallon?
John had plenty more statistics. In fact, he went through them faster than we could write them down. But the numbers we did catch told an important story: serving a growing community requires an enormous amount of work that most residents never see.
Public Works Is Almost Everywhere
Trash and yard waste are only part of the picture. Fleet Services works behind the scenes to keep Town vehicles and equipment operating. That includes vehicles used by police, fire and other departments, along with trucks and specialized equipment. The work includes upfitting new vehicles, routine service, repairs and ongoing maintenance.
Facilities staff help care for Town properties such as Town Hall, the Senior Center, police and fire stations, including building maintenance and grounds.
Public Works also relies heavily on technology and data systems. Those systems help residents and Town employees report and track issues such as missed trash pickups, uneven sidewalks, manhole cover problems and other service needs.
Put all of that together and you begin to understand John’s point: Public Works is woven into everyday life in Apex. When the system is working well, we often do not notice it. That may be the best sign that it is working.
And Yes, We Talked About Yard Waste
John knew there was one subject many people wanted to discuss: the recent changes to Apex’s yard waste program. The Town Council adopted several ordinance changes this year that took effect July 1. Among them, yard waste generated by contractors or landscapers must now be removed by the contractor, and regular collection is limited to two cubic yards per collection cycle before an excess collection fee applies. The Town has also announced that yard waste collection will move to a biweekly schedule beginning October 19, 2026.
Changes to a familiar Town service naturally generate questions, especially in a community where yard waste collection affects tens of thousands of households. John spent considerable time explaining the operational challenges behind the changes, how the service has been affected by Apex’s growth, and why changes were considered necessary to maintain reliable service. It was one of those discussions where hearing the full explanation was much more useful than hearing a few sentences repeated afterward.
Rather than try to squeeze a detailed conversation into a short recap, we encourage residents who have questions about the changes to use the information and resources provided by the Town of Apex. John and the Public Works team have clearly spent a great deal of time studying the issue and explaining how the program works. Interestingly, by the time John opened the floor for questions, he had already answered most of them during his presentation.
Growth Creates New Challenges
Perhaps the most interesting part of the evening was not any single statistic or policy. It was seeing what rapid community growth looks like from the perspective of the people responsible for delivering everyday services. More residents mean more homes to serve. More homes mean more trash, recycling and yard waste.
Growth also means more streets, sidewalks, Town facilities, vehicles, equipment and service requests. A growing community cannot simply keep doing everything exactly the way it did when the community was smaller. Systems, equipment and policies have to grow and change with it.
That is a challenge faced not only by local government, but also by community organizations like the Apex Lions Club. As Apex grows, the needs of our neighbors grow and change too. That is one reason Lions value opportunities to hear directly from people who understand what is happening throughout our community. Learning about those needs helps us think about where volunteers, community organizations, businesses and local government can work together to make Apex an even better place to live.
John even arrived with some leftover handouts and pens from the recently completed Peak Academy, another reminder that there are plenty of opportunities for residents to learn more about how their town works. We appreciate John Mullis for spending the evening with us and giving us a fascinating look behind the scenes.
The next time your trash disappears from the curb, a sidewalk gets repaired, a Town vehicle passes you, or a crew arrives to collect yard waste, remember that you are seeing just one small piece of a very large operation working every day throughout Apex.
And if you enjoy learning more about our community while finding ways to serve your neighbors, we would be happy to introduce you to the Apex Lions Club. We have been serving Apex since 1937, and there is always room for another neighbor who wants to help.
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