Crystal Thomas
The State Journal-Register
After hearing complaints from Springfield residents, aldermen are voicing concern over the quality of the services provided by the three private waste-hauling companies regulated by city government, especially after the haulers recently raised rates to the city-approved maximum.
Springfield City Council members say complaints include yard waste bags not being picked up, haulers starting before 6 a.m., overflowing garbage and a need for haulers to provide consistent reports on fly dumping, as promised. Mayor Jim Langfelder said he would have a meeting with waste haulers next week to review the council’s concerns.
City Public Works director Mark Mahoney said some of the issues come from miscommunication between haulers and customers or between residents and the city. For example, some residents don’t know haulers can get permission from the city to begin collecting waste earlier in the morning when it’s very hot outside.
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The maximum monthly rate companies can charge climbed from $11.25 for one can to $15 and from $13.75 for two cans to $18 in September 2016. All of the companies have raised their rate to the maximum, though some did so in increments.
Yard waste
Several aldermen representing the west side of the city said they have heard from residents complaining about yard waste bags sitting out for weeks. Recent storms have exacerbated residents’ frustration after bags have blown away or disintegrated before they are collected. Yard waste bags that properly have a $2 yard waste sticker on them are supposed to be picked up by haulers within five business days.
Some aldermen felt haulers were not keeping the promises made in three months of discussions before the city council approved raising the rate cap in 2016.
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Mahoney said enforcing hauling ordinances can be a “cat-and-mouse” game.
In 2017, Republic Services was cited 69 times, Waste Management had 37 citations and Lake Area Disposal racked up 50 citations, according to Mahoney. The year before, the numbers were much higher: 230, 307 and 142, respectively.
Mahoney said inspectors have only just begun citing haulers for this year.
Confusion during free pickups
Adding to the frustration was the confusion this spring with yard waste collections during the city’s free pickup period.
The city contracted with Republic Services this year to pick up yard waste bags — with no $2 sticker required — during April and May, with collections happening on specific weeks in different parts of the city. Regardless of whether it’s the free pickup period or not, stickered bags are always expected to be collected, according to city code.
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Customers not happy
In the meantime, some residents fume while watching the tagged bags they paid for pile up.
George Haven, 74, who lives in the 2100 block of Augusta Drive, said he and two neighbors use Republic Services as their waste hauler. At one point in May, the three of them had more than 15 stickered bags of yard waste out front. The smell was not pleasant.
When Haven called and complained, he was told Republic wouldn’t pick up his stickered bags during the free period and he would have to wait until June. Eventually, public works employees came to pick up the bags, which infuriated Haven more. It was Republic’s obligation to pick up the bags, not the city’s.
“I told them I thought it was ridiculous,” Haven said.
Haven said he doesn’t want to change his garbage service because he likes the way Republic handles recycling. But he thinks the city council should weigh Republic’s performance and ability to service their regular customers when bidding out the free yard waste pickup contract next year.
Joe McMenamin for Ward 7 