Waste vendor put on notice

The Town of Belgium may join a few area communities in dropping Waste Management as its garbage and recycling vendor.

At last week’s Town Board meeting, Supr. Tom Bichler said a few weeks ago three overhead bins filled up at the recycling center and “our compactors were bubbling over.

“It was pretty bad down there. (Site supervisor) Ron (Swihart) spent extra hours cleaning up garbage.”

Florida-based Advanced Disposal, which had been the town’s vendor, was bought out by Houston-based Waste Management last year.

“I talked to the new company about possibly switching down the road if things don’t change,” Bichler said.

“Bigger ain’t always better. You call a number, you go to a voicemail and you are on the phone for half an hour trying to get through.”

One of the firm’s challenges, he said, is hiring enough help, including truck drivers.

“I would kick that company out of there. They’re a pain in the butt,” Swihart said.

Bichler said he would see if conditions improve in the next couple of months before seeking a new vendor.