Macomb Township could fine Priority Waste for complaints
Macomb Township residents have a garbage problem and if it is not corrected their vendor could have a financial one.
The township’s Board of Trustees met Wednesday with a discussion highlighted by complaints from residents regarding chronic delays and interruptions in trash collection services rendered by Priority Waste, leading to officials issuing a Notice of Default against their trash hauler, opening a 30-day window in which the company must become compliant with the contract to avoid fines.
More than 10 minutes of public comment led off the meeting, with residents addressing the singular topic of Priority Waste. The five board members present (Clerk Kristi Pozzi and Trustee Peter Lucido were absent) then discussed the matter for 10 minutes before taking action.
According to Grace Lovins, Community Relations & Content Editor for the township, Macomb has “experienced a dramatic decline in service from Priority Waste,” that has led to “a growing number of complaints each day from residents about missed trash, recycling and/or yard waste pickups, in some cases delayed by several days.”
Priority Waste took over the residential contracts in Macomb Township from GFL (Green For Life Environmental) last year following its buyout of GFL on July 1, 2024. In all, the buyout saw service transition from GFL to Priority Waste in six southeast Michigan counties, affecting upwards of 700,000 residents in more than 70 municipalities statewide.
According to Lovins, Macomb Township Supervisor Frank Viviano has met in recent days with his counterparts in Clinton, Shelby and Chesterfield townships, all of whom also utilize Priority Waste and are experiencing similar interruptions in service.
“Every single community where Priority is doing business is having these same issues, and every single one of us is fed up,” said Viviano.
He, along with fellow area supervisors, have a meeting scheduled with Priority Waste leadership next week.
Residents during the meeting’s public time stated their scheduled pickups are often delayed multiple days, with some pickups missed entirely, leading to garbage backups at the curb — which are beginning to attract wildlife.
Viviano said the township had been contracted with GFL for less than a year before the buyout occurred, awarding the township’s business to the company over bids from Priority Waste and Waste Management. Eight months later, Priority Waste bought out GFL.
“Now, the township has the vendor that we specifically passed on (during last year’s bidding process),” said Viviano.
The first few months of the transition were “a little bumpy,” Viviano added, adding “things got much better” after that. However, two months ago, Viviano said service began declining rapidly.
According to Viviano, Priority Waste has stated the reason for the decline is attributed to the poor condition of the trucks it acquired from GFL.
“I’ve talked to them, I’ve talked to their CEO and they’ve promised better service and new trucks, but we are just not seeing results,” he said.
Viviano added he was told by Priority Waste CEO Todd Stamper two weeks ago the company had acquired 50 new trucks that would be in service the following day, information that he shared with Macomb Township residents. However, he was then told later that only 28 of the 50 trucks were delivered, and they needed time to be modified before being put into service.
The Macomb Township Supervisor’s Office worked with the township’s attorney to draft the Notice of Default, which will open a 30-day window during which Priority Waste will be required to bring their services back to the standard expected as per the contract with the township. After that 30-day window, a hearing will take place, and if the township is still experiencing service interruptions, they can begin instituting fines to Priority Waste that could total $35 for delayed pickups per household per instance of delay. By issuing the Notice of Default, the public hearing will be scheduled for Aug. 13.
Last year, officials in neighboring Clinton Township instituted a fine of $50 every day for unresolved issues over ongoing complaints stemming from residential garbage pickup by Priority.
Viviano acknowledged dumping Priority Waste and seeking a new vendor would be difficult due to a lack of competition in the marketplace.
Fraser to consider contract extension with Priority Waste despite complaints
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