Waste Management

the18thletter said:

oots said:

waste industries allows for a monthly pick up of up to 4 bulk items.  last friday of each month and you must call to schedule it

we had one last month-hopefully they will continue this option

I was told the pick up is Saturday? Perhaps I should put the stuff out on Thursday night so I don't get missed Friday if the cs agent was misinformed. 

Yes, on the last Saturday. You need to call by Friday.

the18thletter said:

OK. So you just put it out on Friday and it's actually picked up on Saturday like WI says? I'm an early bird so I've never put recycling or bulk items out the day before. 

yes - you do need to make the appointment 

DaveSchmidt said:

Elle_Cee said:

I, too, plan to switch to Waste Industries.

If you do, you may want to consider their by-the-bag tag program. We pay $47.49 quarterly for twice-weekly pickup instead of the normal $95. I forget exactly how much the tags cost,* but as empty-nesters and composters we probably average less than one bag of trash a week (which we can put out on either Monday or Thursday), and I'd estimate our total quarterly cost at $60, saving us $140 a year.

* You order as many as you want (I usually get about 20 at a time) from Waste Industries by phone, and they arrive by mail a few days later.

Why do I (a WI customer) not know about this?  Did they send something out to let customers know or do we have to just find out by accident like I am today?

DaveSchmidt said:

ridski said:

Thanks for all the info, I'll definitely discuss with Mr. Ski, but even with your 2 bags a week calculations, I'd be saving $240+ a year, plus I can still get a free bulk pickup if I need it.

Yeah, I didn't realize Waste Management was $140 per quarter.

One quirk about WI: While they bill my credit card easily enough when I call for tags, quarterly payments by card appear to require using a FluidPay portal on WI's website, which says there's a processing fee. When our bill arrives, on a single sheet of paper, I write out a check and insert it into my own envelope, which I address by pen, stick with a stamp and carry to a USPS mailbox. Just like Dad does.

ETA: And I wonder if WM's move to charge for bulk pickup means WI won't be far behind.

I gave WI my credit card info a long time ago and they just charge the cost each quarter automatically.  (I did this by phone.  I didn't even know there was an online website payment option.)

The town has some jurisdiction about garbage pickup or we would not have rear yard pickup.  Perhaps it is a municipal ordinance, I don't know, but where are these kinds of "rules" and what are they?  And do they address bulk pickup or pickup days or ???  WI recently changed the once-a-week customers to Wednesday, at least in my neighborhood, even though our days were always Monday and/or Thursday same as the twice-a-week customers and same as WM.  I had always thought the days were set by the town, but apparently not.

sac said:

Why do I (a WI customer) not know about this?

Ah, but you did. ;-)

https://maplewood.worldwebs.com/forums/discussion/anyone-s-recycling-picked-up-today?page=next&limit=30#discussion-replies-3385856

DaveSchmidt said:

sac said:

Why do I (a WI customer) not know about this?

Ah, but you did. ;-)

https://maplewood.worldwebs.com/forums/discussion/anyone-s-recycling-picked-up-today?page=next&limit=30#discussion-replies-3385856

Hmmm - interesting.  But it still seems to be a well-kept secret in general.  (And MOL is not an official notification source.)

I guess maybe we are lucky. We find WM providing good service over the years.

We set out some bulk pickup items occasionally. We have gotten rid of mattresses (wrapped in plastic), tables, etc. We put a little out each time.

Also, we use the bulk drop off at town recycling center . I can’t think of having any problems.

We have used the Bagster for when we had massive bulk items. I think that cost around $200, but we filled it.

We rarely call WM but when we do we usually get through fairly quickly

I've never had difficulty reaching WM. I'm guessing that is because I use our landline when I call and they know who I am. If originally you registered with your landline and then you call on your cell...they don't know that you are a customer. 

Today when I left home the WM truck was approaching so for safety I waited. Recognizing I waited to exit my driveway, they signalled it was ok for me to exit. This similar courtesy from WI trucks has not been within my experience.

It doesn't seem fair that some residents are still getting bulk curbside pickup for free while others are being charged.  We, too, have been impressed by the WM workers and have appreciated all their hard work, but something has gone wrong with the company.  I don't know why they removed free bulk pickup as a feature of our account, then quoted $75 to pick up an end table.  Others posting on Nextdoor and Facebook have had the same unpleasant surprise. It's rather strange.  We have neighbors happy with WI and their service is less expensive, so we'll give them a try and hope that WI doesn't eliminate free bulk pickup, too.