Dive Brief:

• The city of Gary, IN, has decided to move forward with the termination of its hauling contract with Waste Management. 
• The decisions follows a unanimous vote taken by commissioners during a Sanitary District Board meeting on Monday.
• Gary said the decision reflected a strained relationship with the hauler that stemmed from poor service, missed collections and lack of response in addressing customer complaints.

Dive Insight:

Gary Mayor Karen Freeman-Wilson said that attempts were made to communicate the issues with Waste Management. Problems included inconsistent pick-ups, a lack of collection altogether, and poor services during the winter. She said the matters were never addressed, leading to the termination of the five year contract struck with the hauler a year and a half ago. The agreement included a ‘convenience’ clause that allows the city to cancel the contract. 

According to a Waste Management spokesperson, the hauler is in the process of reaching out to the mayor in an attempt to resolve the situation. Bids are expected to go out within weeks as the city seeks a new contract with a different waste services company.