''They can't do nothing right they get into,'' Jack Harvard complained Wednesday. ''They can't run the sewage plant. They can't build sidewalks. They can't build fire stations. And they can't pick up garbage.''

Mr. Harvard, 73, was steamed because his hauler didn't show up Tuesday as scheduled to pick up his trash at his home in the 2400 block of DeMetree Way near Georgia Highway 56 and Lumpkin Road in south Augusta. The hauler did pick up as scheduled Friday.

Gladys Williams, of the 200 block of Simons Court in Montclair subdivision in west Augusta, hadn't had any garbage pickup since July 31, the last day her private hauler picked up her trash.

Mrs. Williams and her neighbors made so many phone calls to city hall and public works that they finally got service Wednesday afternoon, even though it wasn't one of their scheduled days, she said.

''The heat was on, literally, and they finally got somebody out here to pick up,'' she said. ''It has been the biggest fiasco. It was really very unsanitary and smelly.''

Montclair residents on the main streets of Kings Chapel and Crane Ferry have received service, while side streets and cul-de-sacs, such as Mrs. Williams', did not, she said.

Teresa Smith, Augusta's public works director, said the service will improve as the kinks get worked out, and she's taking corrective action to see that it does.

Customers will receive new, simplified schedule cards, more phone numbers to call with questions and complaints, and extended hours for calling with complaints.

The cards will have schedules for recycling, household, yard and bulky waste pickup for each customer. At the top will be the contract hauler's name and phone number for customers to call to report missed pickups, requests for special assistance and missing trash cans.

''The primary issue with garbage pickup seems to be communication,'' she said. ''We're getting a lot of calls from people indicating they just don't know what's going on.''

Effective today, haulers and city offices will answer calls until 7 p.m.

To report not having a can, customers may call 796-5040, 796-5041 or 592-2085.

Reach Sylvia Cooper at (706) 823-3228 or sylviaco@augustachronicle.com.