After a week of complaints and confusion about garbage collection in Gettysburg, Waste Management (WM) released a statement on Friday.
“Collection is to take place Monday and Tuesday, with or without containers,” the statement said.
“Trash cans and recycling containers are available for rent for $12 per container per quarter,” according to the release.
“Waste Management planned to begin delivery of containers beginning Friday, April 1. Containers will only be delivered to residents who request one or both,” the statement said.
Residents can request a receptacle “by emailing their name, address, phone number and specific request to [email protected] Residents must indicate whether they would like a 96-gallon trash can, a 64-gallon recycling receptacle, or both,” according to the release.
“Residents can also contact WM at 800-593-9529 or visit www.wm.com to speak with a live representative,” according to the statement.
“WM will continue to provide services to residents on Mondays and Tuesdays beginning April 4. Residents should follow the same schedule they had with the borough’s former carrier,” the statement said.
“WM received a customer list from the borough’s former waste hauler, and residents on that list do not need to create a new account with WM. If a resident needs to contact WM customer service and does not have their account number handy, they can provide their name and address,” the statement said.
Residents have the option to register for a non-mandatory online account called My WM, through which they can arrange online bill payments, receive service updates, and more, according to the statement. The information is at www.wm.com.
The borough will continue to organize covered appliance recycling events, with the next scheduled for September 17. “Residents should pre-register for the event and more information will be available soon,” the statement said.
“Our local transportation team in Greencastle is excited to begin providing service to the borough of Gettysburg. We know changing service providers can come with some unforeseen challenges and we apologize for any frustration. Our team is ready to begin service on April 4 and looks forward to a wonderful partnership with the borough,” the statement quoted Greencastle Hauling District Senior Manager Pat Heraty as saying.
Borough officials received a flood of complaints after former carrier Waste Connections picked up containers it owned, leaving many borough customers without containers for Monday and Tuesday collections this week.
The borough council was unanimous last month in accepting WM’s offer for a contract which took effect on Friday
The rate goes from $18.19 per month to $22.55 per month, according to Borough Manager Charles Gable. The borough was legally required to accept WM’s offer because it was lower than former carrier Waste Connections’ $24.15 offer, Gable said.
Residents who found themselves without containers may not have realized that container rental fees were included in previous carrier bills, Gable said.
WM argued that container replacement procedures were not specifically addressed in the new contract that took effect on Friday, Gable said.
The wording in the contract mirrored language used for several years when Adams County coordinated waste hauling for many municipalities, Gable said.
Late last year, the county opted to discontinue that service, leaving municipalities to fend for themselves “at the 11th hour,” he said.
“We are beyond frustrated and exceptionally unhappy with this transition,” Gable wrote Tuesday in an email to WM Public Sector Solutions representative Michelle Deverin.
“I think a letter of apology to every WM customer is in order,” wrote Gable, who said in an interview that he forwarded all emails and phone messages received from residents to WM.
“Whether the bins are in the contract or not doesn’t matter to us. WM has an obligation to serve our citizens and so far it hasn’t been right,” Gable wrote to Deverin.
The new contract is for three years with an option to renew for a fourth, Gable said.
Waste Connections served the borough for eight years, before which WM was the supplier, Gable said.
