STERLING HEIGHTS, Mich. – When you think of Michigan’s population centers, Sterling Heights may not come to mind.
Yet it should! It’s the fourth most populous city in the state, behind Detroit, Grand Rapids and Warren
With more than 133,000 residents, trash pick up is not only important, it’s become controversial.
Seven years ago, Sterling Heights contracted with GFL to do its trash pickup, but that’s about to change. The trash pickup provided residents with peace of mind. No matter how much is piled up, it goes away.
Now, Priority Waste is the new contractor. It spent April delivering every Sterling Heights home new high-tech trash cans with barcodes attached.
Each home gets a 95-gallon trash can and a 65-gallon recycle bin. Those who need more cans will cost residents $100.
Unlike the old system -- where two people were in each truck -- only one person comes around: The driver operating a retractable arm truck. Cans must sit three feet apart and nothing can be piled on the curb. Residents who have too much trash for one can will have to call the company and arrange another pickup at extra cost.
“And every time you change something like that, it’s it’s difficult for residents,” said Mayor Mike Taylor. “But we expect some hiccups but you know we’re going to get through them.”
The 10-year Priority contract is $23 million less than the next bid the city received. So it really comes down to an overall cost savings.
“It’s a best practice. It’s something that’s been adopted by a lot of other cities,” Taylor said. “So we anticipate that once people get used to the program they’ll see the benefit.”
Residents aren’t fans.
“If we only have to use that can then that’s going to be an issue because we’re a family of seven,” said Dominic Kada. “We have three kids, so it’s going to have a lot of diapers.”
There are also new yard waste rules that will completely undo those who tend to their yards. Residents need to buy approved brown paper bags and they cannot exceed 50 pounds.
Officials with Priority Waste said that while they understand change is often difficult, they’re supporting the city administration’s decision to move to a safer, more accountable and highly efficient trash collection system.
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