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jimhanson 
Group: Moderator
Posts: 8491
Joined: Aug. 2003
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Posted on: Sep. 17 2003,11:27 am |
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We keep getting hit with "fuel cost escalators" for our garbage removal at the airport. I have a 4-yard container, with Waste Management as the contractor. They empty it once a month, and it currently costs $81.74 per month. Someone told me to try Thompson Sanitation in Clarks Grove--they quoted $41 per month for the same container, with the option of twice-a-month disposal of 2-yard containers if I wished. They warned me that Waste Management would be unlikely to let me out of my contract, however.
I contacted Waste Management, told them about the competitive bid, and asked to terminate the contract. They looked up the contract, it is a 3 year contract, with automatic 12-month "rolling window" renewals. I told them I wanted to terminate the contract due to better rates from a competitive hauler. They offerred to match price--BUT AS A CONDITION, I WOULD HAVE TO SIGN UP FOR ANOTHER 3 YEARS! They were very nice about it, even offering to go back one month on a refund.
These people have been overcharging $40 a month for years, then tried to "freeze out" the competition that helps hold prices down. I terminated the contract, and at the end of the contract next year, will switch to Thompson's. If you have an option on your waste hauler, get a competitive quote, then call Waste Management for a price match. Whether you continue with them is up to you, but either way, you'll save some money.
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"If you want to anger a Conservative, tell him a lie. If you want to anger a LIBERAL, tell him the TRUTH!"
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| Post Number: 2
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Hanna
Group: Members
Posts: 132
Joined: Aug. 2003
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Posted on: Sep. 17 2003,12:39 pm |
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Jim, I agree. Over the past 8 years I've had Waste System picking up my garbage. I had one of those small "carts" I think they call them. The bill used to be about $25 per 3 months. This year, I beleive it went to $52 bi-monthly for us. With only two of us living here, we never filled a cart each time. I decided to try something else.
I store my garbage in a trailer that I built. When the trailer gets full, I pull it down to the Waste Systems land fill in Lake Mills Iowa....Costs me $4 to unload it. I only have to do this a couple times a year. If everything is contained in good plastic bags, and the trailer is very well ventilated, there is no smell.
You'd be surprise at the yearly savings.
Not to mention, Waste Systems would forget our little road from time to time, but they didn't reduce our bill.
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| Post Number: 3
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minnow
Unregistered
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Posted on: Sep. 17 2003,10:17 pm |
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Good Job Jim Hanson. Waste managements service and billing leave much to be desired to be sure. I fired em and went with another service that is better and cheaper. When it comes to garbage, support your local haulers when you can.
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| Post Number: 4
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cwolff
Group: Members
Posts: 265
Joined: Aug. 2003
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Posted on: Sep. 19 2003,7:12 pm |
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Jim, I also got rid of Waste Management and went with BFI. The main reason is that my garbage was being dumped into Burnsville's Waste Management landfill, and Waste Management is expanding their so called "sanitary landfill" onto 40 acres of wetlands right next to their current landfill and right along the Minnesota River. The City of Burnsville is all for it only because they get a take on the garbage. The forty acres are situated in one of the prime areas for recharge into the aquifer, but no one seems to care. In the mean time, more and more wells are being drilled, because the water source is being depleted. Wetlands continue to disappear, and people wonder why the aquifers are being depleted.
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