Priority Waste, the Clinton Township-based trash hauler for several metro Detroit communities, is under fire again — this time in Garden City, which is telling residents through social media that it is working to address the “ongoing service delays.”
The city asked residents to report pickup delays, but to leave items at the curb.
City officials said the trash pickup delays are affecting multiple areas in a Monday, June 29, Facebook post, and blamed them on “operational challenges” with Priority Waste, which the city added is causing “significant inconvenience.”
There was no answer at the company’s media phone number or way to leave a message.
Earlier this month, the Free Press reported other municipalities — including St. Clair Shores, Dearborn Heights and Westland — demanded improvements from Priority Waste and even were weighing actions against the company.
Some officials went so far as to speculate that the company had expanded too fast, signing more contracts than it had the capacity to actually fulfill.
At the time, the company said that it had hired a new CEO, Aaron Johnson, to improve operations and reliability, adding, “We want our customers and communities to know that we hear them, we understand their frustration, and we take full responsibility.”
Priority Waste — which goes by the shorted name Priority — boasts on its website that it was “born out of a vision to redefine waste management, sustainability, and logistics practices,” and aims to “lead the way in efficiency, sustainability, and customer satisfaction.”
It started, it said, in 2018 with a fleet of just “four roll-off trucks” and less than 10 workers. The company now says it serves 125 municipalities in Michigan, Ohio, and Indiana, and has a workforce of about 1,200 employees.
‘Garden City said in its social media post to residents that Priority was behind picking up compost and bulk items and will “exercise its rights under the terms of its contract” and demand “improved performance.”
“While we understand these delays can be frustrating,” the city said, “please leave your materials at the curb until they are collected and notify the city of the missed pickup so we can assist in documenting and addressing service issues.”
A bulk item, the city said, is considered anything that does not fit inside your regular trash cart for weekly collection. Officials added that Priority “does not require bulk pickup appointments or scheduling,” and residents are permitted one bulk item per week.
City officials also asked residents to help track missed pickups, urging them to let them know when pickups are late by calling 734-793-1600 or filing a report on the city’s online FixIt system at www.GardenCityMI.org/FixIt.
Contact Frank Witsil: 313-222-5022 or fwitsil@freepress.com
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Priority Waste struggling with pickups, this time in Garden City
Reporting by Frank Witsil, Detroit Free Press / Detroit Free Press
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By Frank Witsil, Detroit Free Press | USA TODAY Network
