Following a unanimous decision of the Greenville City Council in March, along with a slight delay due to the coronavirus pandemic, city trash services have now changed hands from one company to another beginning this week. American Waste. Inc. of Kalkaska, which was purchased in January by GFL Environmental Inc. of Toronto, Canada, will be taking over weekly waste disposal duties for residents and businesses alike.
For the past 10 years, Republic Waste Services of Grand Rapids has handled those duties, but with the end of their most recent five-year contract, the city opened the services up for bidding going forward. Republic Waste’s five-year bid came forward at $1,289,399, while American Waste submitted a seven-year bid at $1,190,972. Additionally, Granger Waste Services of Lansing submitted a bid at $1,279,999. According to City Manager George Bosanic, the city previously paid $929,074 annually, meaning all three proposals represented an increase in cost for the city.
In choosing American Waste, members of the Council cited both the lower bid cost, as well as an opportunity for more recycling, in ending the previous partnership with Republic Waste. Previously, Republic Waste offered 18-gallon recycling bins for residents to utilize, while American Waste is instead providing an additional 96-gallon recycling bin, matching the size of the trash bin. “My recycling is overflowing every week,” Councilman Larry Moss said. “Now I’m going to have two big trash haulers, so I will have to find room to store that as well.” With the additional size in recycling containers, members of the Council are hopeful more city residents will recycle.