East Spencer may trash current waste pickup service

Published 12:00 am Thursday, December 3, 2009

By Scott Jenkins

Salisbury Post

EAST SPENCER — Town officials may seek new proposals for residential waste collection after repeated problems with current service provider Waste Management of the Carolinas.

The town’s Operations Department is also looking at providing the service itself, though a memo to Town Administrator Richard Hunter said that option may be too costly and time-consuming.

Adrian Smith, director of operations, told the Board of Alderman this week that the town has had problems for months with Waste Management not picking up bulk items and missing trash collections.

“Some people … their trash hasn’t been picked up in three or four weeks,” he said.

Smith told aldermen that he alerted Waste Management to the problems two months ago and was told “they would work on it,” but the problems have persisted. He said he also calls the company as he gets complaints from residents about missed garbage collection on Fridays.

Pat Walker, the manager of Waste Management’s Granite Quarry location, said he couldn’t speak to specific complaints, but he said the company is in contact with Smith daily and has “a good working relationship.”

“I’m not aware of any major issues,” he said. “From time to time, there may be residents with issues we address; they call us and we go out and investigate if that’s required.”

Smith said later in the week that the service has improved somewhat since he began complaining to Waste Management and the company has provided explanations for its problems in East Spencer, including equipment breakdowns, personnel changes and road work that altered at least one route.

“But at the same time, residents’ trash hasn’t been picked up,” he said.

Other problems with the company include broken or damaged disposal carts, multiple carts in residential areas and carts sitting in front of abandoned houses, according to the memo.

The town’s current contract with Waste Management, which has been in effect for several years, automatically renews annually unless the town gives 30 days notice of cancellation, Smith said.

A new contract with Waste Management or another company would take effect for the 2007-2008 fiscal year and include mechanisms for handling problems such as delayed or missed collections, as well as financial compensation for variances from the contract, the memo said.

Smith said he will present more information to the board in January.

Contact Scott Jenkins at 704-797-4248 or sjenkins@salisburypost.com.