Willingboro fining trash collector over poor service, bashes Republic Services response

WILLINGBORO TWP. – The township is leveling financial penalties against trash collection company Republic Services, which started year two of its three-year contract earlier this month with a breakdown in collection schedules.

Officials are attributing the difficulties to the recent “terminations” of an unspecified number of Republic Services employees. Officials also say the situation is worsened by the way the Arizona-based company is responding to them.

Township Manager Dwayne Harris did not respond to a request for comment on Monday. Mayor Kaya McIntosh and Deputy Mayor Samantha Whitfield could not be reached via their official email accounts Monday.

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However, Harris did speak at last week’s council meeting about what was happening and said the collection problems started June 16. Harris said Republic Services is being fined as provided for under its contract, which allows a $1,500 daily penalty for not fulling commitments.

“And I will tell you, for a vendor, they are not very respectful of their client nor the community that they serve,” Harris said. “And it’s just an unfortunate situation.”

In a ripple effect, officials now are worrying about and discouraging the dumping of trash in parks and other areas, partly over possible health impacts.

Republic Services responded to a request on Monday for comment on the situation via email from its corporate office in Arizona.

The email states: “Thank you for your inquiry. Many industries are facing staffing challenges at this time, and the environmental services industry is no different.

“We are always recruiting and hiring great people to join our team in Burlington County, and offer a competitive salary, generous benefits, paid vacation, safety bonuses, and numerous career advancement opportunities. For more information, please visit https://republicservices.jobs.”

At the June 21 council meeting, Harris said Republic Services now is “trying to play catchup.”

The manager also said Willingboro has no ability to intervene because the contractor owns the collection vehicles.

“However, they do believe that they are going to have the situation resolve by this Thursday (June 23 ) and will be back to schedule,” Harris said.

Harris said the company also was dispatching trucks to try to catch up on bulk item collection, including working over the weekend.

The manager advised residents to continue leaving out their trash karts for collection. The township on Friday allowed residents to take trash to the Department of Public Works yard at 25 Industrial Drive.

Willingboro also received a shipment of 96-gallon trash karts for residents wanting a second one. The township ordered 700 in May. Arrangements are being made to distribute them, he said.

Some residents have posted their feeling about the situation on the township Facebook page.

Ivy Swan posted, “This would never happen in Delran or Cinnaminson. We’ve been through grad parties, Father’s Day events and Juneteenth with thrash lined streets for well over 10 days in some areas. Totally unacceptable.”

They are "not going to be satisfied until this town has a severe rodent issue. I was already told that some parks are suffering from that already," wrote Janet Owens.

“By service and performance levels they are in breach of contract. The better business bureau shows a history of poor performance. Cancel the contract and meet them in court. Take care of your residents, our tax dollars come first," Rosezall Morrison wrote.

“So wait… you really expect us, who pay taxes in this town, to haul our own household garbage to the DPW yard because you can’t get this ridiculous problem fixed with a company you used our tax dollars to hire and pay. This is absurd. So we are paying for a service that we are not getting and doing the job that our taxes are paying for? Please make this make sense….” Kimberly Thomas wrote.

Republic Services was given a three-year contract in May 2021 as the lowest of three companies bidding to be the local solid waste collection vendor. It took over on June 1, 2021.

This article originally appeared on Vineland Daily Journal: Willingboro NJ fines Republic Services for trash collection