Some 700,000 residents across southeast Michigan will see an abrupt change in trash collection this summer following the sale of GFL Environmental's residential waste collection services to Priority Waste.
In a May 29 letter to employees, GFL said the sale includes the transfer of contracts with 75 municipalities, as well as 70,000 homeowners’ associations and subscription residential customers in Oakland, Washtenaw, Livingston, Macomb, Genesee and Wayne counties.
Matt Allen, director of public relations and government affairs for Clinton Township-based Priority Waste, said the announcement was made to employees of both companies earlier this week.
Priority, he said, intends to retain the 800 current GFL employees as well as approximately 500 trucks and other pieces of equipment.
“To the GFL employees that are going to be coming over, know that we're welcoming you with open arms and we want to make this transition good for you and your families,” Allen said. “To the communities that we're going to be…servicing starting in July,know that we have every intention of honoring the contracts that we're assuming, that we want to do the best job that we can, and that our employees are your neighbors.”
Allen said the lime green GFL trucks would eventually be painted yellow and rebranded, but noted the change won’t happen overnight. While residents might see GFL trucks for a while, they will be operated by Priority Waste beginning July 1.
By retaining the employees and equipment, Allen added, the company expects few challenges in maintaining the expected levels of service.
“This is a time of great energy and we look forward to doing what we do best by utilizing our technology and our methods to better service our communities,” he said.
As a privately-held entity, Allen said, the company was not releasing financial details of the sale.
Quick changes
In Plymouth Township, currently two years into a five-year, $7 million contract with GFL, Supervisor Kurt Heise said representatives from both GFL and Priority reached out to inform him about the sale earlier this week.
Priority Waste, he said, is required to honor the township’s agreement with GFL.
“The contract is assignable, which means GFL has always had the legal right to hand over the contract…to another operator, with the understanding that the new operator has a legal responsibility to adhere to the terms and conditions of our contract,” Heise said.
Heise noted he was somewhat skeptical when he learned the changeover would occur by July 1.
“I'm not a hundred percent certain that's going to be attainable because they have to transition over 73 contracts…so that's a pretty ambitious handover in a little over 30 days,” he said.
Heise also said he wants to insure specifics of the contract are honored. For example, he said, Plymouth Township, does not want trash bins like those used by some other communities served by Priority Waste, but does want to retain residents' ability to put out bulk items on any collection day.
Communities react
Unlike Heise, Northville Township Supervisor Mark Abbo said he had not heard directly from GFL or Priority and was just learning about the sale.
“The first thing we’re going to do is look at our contract with GFL to see what our rights are,” Abbo said. “Then we’ll look at the kind of service Priority is providing to its customers, then determine what we’re doing to do. We need to do our due diligence.”
A release from the Northville Township's communication department said GFL has struggled to complete its entire route in the community over the past several weeks, causing delays in pickup.
“We anticipate service days will remain the same as they are currently,” Department of Public Services Director Bob Belair said. “Our leadership looks forward to meeting with the teams at GFL and Priority Waste to understand how this change impacts our residents.”
Milford Township is part of an eight-community consortium – including the Village of Milford, Lyon Township, Walled Lake, Commerce Township, Wixom and others – contracting together with GFL.
Supervisor Don Green said about four years remain on the current contract, but that the eight community leaders will be coming to the table with Priority in the next few weeks.
“Some people have had bad luck with GFL," Green said. "We’ve had really good luck with GFL; avery good response if there’s an issue. Some people have had not-so-good luck with Priority, but from what I understand they are going to do everything they possibly can to keep the same level of service for Milford Township and other communities.”
Canton Township announced a switch to Priority Waste in February, approving a five-year, $26 million contract with the company after a long stretch of difficulties with GFL.
At the time, township officials warned residents to be patient during the transition period, which was scheduled for Aug. 1, but will now begin July 1.
Canton Township residents can expect to receive new Priority Waste bins sometime in July but should not begin using those until July 29, Graham-Hudak said.
Reporter Laura Colvin covers local news from Canton, Plymouth and Northville. Contact her at lcolvin@hometownlife.com.
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