Cherry Hill homeowners missing out on one thing they count on most: consistent trash collection.

Updated at 6:40 p.m. Tuesday with Republic Services' statement.

When temperatures reach the 90s, homeowners look forward to that day of the week when they roll out a plastic container and seven days' worth of stinky trash magically disappears.

In Cherry Hill, though, that magic has been missing lately.

Collection trucks from trash removal contractor Republic Services have not been showing when they are due.

"Trust me when I say that we all are feeling the frustration of the trash situation," Township Council member Carole Roskoph said at Monday night's meeting. "I have a can of trash sitting in front of my house and I just keep adding to it."

A few residents also showed up at the meeting to protest the tardiness of Republic Services, which was scheduled to meet with Township officials on Tuesday about the problems in sticking to the trash and recycling pick-up schedule.

"I now have maggots in my garbage cans," Helen Kraus, of Howard Road, told Council. "I don't have any room."

She added: "This company obviously can't handle our trash."

On Tuesday morning, 70and73.com asked Republic Services to comment on the issues. The company emailed a statement late in the afternoon, saying: "At this time, many industries are facing staffing challenges, and the environmental services industry is no different."

Republic Services said in its statement that, at a meeting with Township officials, a plan was developed to get back on schedule. "Even through staffing challenges, it is our goal to provide exceptional service to our customers," Republic Services said in its statement.

Mayor Susan Shin Angulo told Council the missed trash pick-ups are not unique to Cherry Hill and that Republic "continues to cite ongoing shortages of labor and CDL-licensed (Commercial Driver's License) drivers as a main culprit behind these delays."

She said the Township is exploring buying some trash trucks and having Department of Public Works employees — the mayor said 80% of them have their CDL — ready to fill gaps in the future.

Council member Michele Golkow disclosed that the Township has begun to withhold Republic's invoice payments for damages.

"I'm hoping that pressure can be applied, since we are the largest municipality that they serve," Golkow said. "It is a pervasive problem. It's impacting many, many municipalities in the area and there really aren't great options for other trash services as a replacement."