2008 Woodie Awards
Waste Management makes mess of trash selection
Andrew Thomason
Issue date: 4/16/08 Section: News
The only difference between traditional stonings and the one Waste Management suffered at Macomb's City Council meeting Monday night was the substitution of pointed words for rocks.
"I'm tired of apologizing for this project every day for the past two months," said Dave Dorsette, 5th Ward alderman, referring to the renewed trash and recycling removal contract with Waste Management.
Clay Hinderliter, a Macomb citizen and landlord, began the barrage by recanting a story of alleged incompetence involving the distribution of the new recycling carts. He told the council that despite repeated calls to Macomb and Waste Management, it took three months to receive the carts.
Hinderliter recommended the city modify its current waste removal ordnance to allow residents to choose who performs the service.
"I don't like hearing I don't have choices," Hinderliter said. "What I'm not going to put up with is the incompetence, arrogance and insolence I've had to put up with for three months."
If Macomb does not alter the ordnance, Hinderliter said he will "short pay (his) bill and see (them) in court." He went on to suggest a Waste Management employee, referred only to as Jeremiah, be fired for the way he handled Hinderliter's repeated calls.
Sixth Ward Ald. Tim Lobdell said he could sympathize with Hinderliter but felt allowing citizens to opt out of using Macomb's contracted waste removal service would hurt everyone.
"In the waste-handling community, (the current system) allows us to get better prices," Lobdell said.
David Schaab, municipal contracts manager, addressed Hinderliter's and council member's concerns. The service Hinderliter and those like him received was unacceptable, according to Schaab. He said there were no excuses for the delay in getting carts out, and Waste Management is working to fix the problem.
"We will offer credit to the city for any services not rendered," Schaab said. "We will act retroactively to remedy any problems that were largely our fault."
Alderman-at-Large Chris Senn suggested the problem could be an inefficient communication system between Waste Management and the Public Works Department. However, Schaab said he was happy with the disclosure between the two entities, adding he received reports from pubic works on a near-daily basis.
"If there is a simple explanation for how the wheels came off this particular cart, (the whole process) seemed to be overwhelmed," Schaab said.
According to Schaab, Waste Management is changing the way it tracks requests and complaints by adding the date the call was received onto the service ticket. Schaab said this modification will allow better monitoring and quicker responses.
Senn told Schaab the hits he took Monday were likely justified, however the situation with waste removal does not smell completely rotten - most people enjoy the new cart system and are happy with the service.
"I'm tired of apologizing for this project every day for the past two months," said Dave Dorsette, 5th Ward alderman, referring to the renewed trash and recycling removal contract with Waste Management.
Clay Hinderliter, a Macomb citizen and landlord, began the barrage by recanting a story of alleged incompetence involving the distribution of the new recycling carts. He told the council that despite repeated calls to Macomb and Waste Management, it took three months to receive the carts.
Hinderliter recommended the city modify its current waste removal ordnance to allow residents to choose who performs the service.
"I don't like hearing I don't have choices," Hinderliter said. "What I'm not going to put up with is the incompetence, arrogance and insolence I've had to put up with for three months."
If Macomb does not alter the ordnance, Hinderliter said he will "short pay (his) bill and see (them) in court." He went on to suggest a Waste Management employee, referred only to as Jeremiah, be fired for the way he handled Hinderliter's repeated calls.
Sixth Ward Ald. Tim Lobdell said he could sympathize with Hinderliter but felt allowing citizens to opt out of using Macomb's contracted waste removal service would hurt everyone.
"In the waste-handling community, (the current system) allows us to get better prices," Lobdell said.
David Schaab, municipal contracts manager, addressed Hinderliter's and council member's concerns. The service Hinderliter and those like him received was unacceptable, according to Schaab. He said there were no excuses for the delay in getting carts out, and Waste Management is working to fix the problem.
"We will offer credit to the city for any services not rendered," Schaab said. "We will act retroactively to remedy any problems that were largely our fault."
Alderman-at-Large Chris Senn suggested the problem could be an inefficient communication system between Waste Management and the Public Works Department. However, Schaab said he was happy with the disclosure between the two entities, adding he received reports from pubic works on a near-daily basis.
"If there is a simple explanation for how the wheels came off this particular cart, (the whole process) seemed to be overwhelmed," Schaab said.
According to Schaab, Waste Management is changing the way it tracks requests and complaints by adding the date the call was received onto the service ticket. Schaab said this modification will allow better monitoring and quicker responses.
Senn told Schaab the hits he took Monday were likely justified, however the situation with waste removal does not smell completely rotten - most people enjoy the new cart system and are happy with the service.
Viewing Comments 1 - 2 of 2
matt
posted 4/16/08 @ 4:36 PM CST
We've called 4 times to get additional trash bins and we have yet to receive them. We gave up because its about time to move. Every time we called they would say we will have them to you by the end of the week. (Continued…)
kris
posted 4/17/08 @ 11:19 AM CST
They still have bring the carts to the truck by hand. But, the truck can then grab the cart and dump it into the back, if the cart is too heavy to lift. (Continued…)
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