Flint residents react to Flint City Council approving trash hauling contract revisions - WJRT

Flint residents react to Flint City Council approving trash hauling contract revisions | Top Stories | abc12.com

FLINT, Mich. (WJRT) - The vote comes after weeks of debate. The revised contract extends Priority Waste's deal with Flint through June 2028.

The company is guaranteed to receive $6.7 million per year for hauling residential trash, recycling and yard waste. Some residents say they are happy with the contract, while others feel the price tag outweighs the job.

"A good job so far," says city resident Danilo Franklin Jr. "I would suggest doing a double check run on the sides to see if there is any trash on the side streets."

A 31-year-old resident, Kendrick Hood, who has lived in Lansing and Flint, echoed the contentment. Comparing the two cities, Hood said Flint's pick-up is better.

"From Lansing to this, trash pickup is different,” says Hood. “Here, we just put it out. I feel this is more for the city instead of taking from the city.”

However, other city residents, like Deborah Johnson, say the money can be used on a cheaper service.

"I don't feel they are doing what they are getting paid for," said Johnson. "They said they were going to help clean up blight, and there is blight all over the place. They just drive by and not pick up."

In addition to trash pickup, Flint residents will receive both recycling and trash carts free of charge. These carts will be owned by the City of Flint and carry a 10-year warranty.

"Honestly, that's a good thing that there's some recycling bins around here,” says Franklin Jr. “We needed this a long time ago.”

"I don't know if it can help or not,” says Johnson. “If people aren't going to use them, and people don't put trash in a trash can, what good is it."

To implement this project, the City of Flint must now issue a request for proposals for cart manufacturing, complete the bid process, and submit a management plan to The Recycling Partnership by Nov. 30.