IRONDEQUOIT, N.Y. — Residents in Irondequoit are frustrated with their garbage pickup services, citing months of inconsistent trash collection from companies like Waste Management and Casella Waste Systems.

The Irondequoit Town Board held a public hearing to address the issue, floating the idea of rescinding the licenses for the two companies – which allows the companies to have trash pickup contracts with individual households.

“In the few months that we’ve had them, they’ve missed at least two garbage pickups and one recycling pickup,” said Tim Wilson, a Casella customer. “So I’ve had to call them every single time. And they do come and get it. But it’s still, you know, a 20 minute phone call and you’re on hold for quite a bit of time…it’s not at the top of the things I want to do after I’ve worked all day.”

Another resident, who asked to remain anonymous, shared similar frustrations and is considering switching to a local, cheaper garbage service.

Marc Fitzsimmons from Casella Waste acknowledged the company’s shortcomings, stating at tonight’s hearing, “We did have service delays; we did have gaps in our communication, and for that I do apologize. We’re not perfect, but we try to learn for these situations to where we can provide a better service to the communities, to increase our customer base, and we wanna be able to do that safely.”

Waste Management cited safety concerns as a reason for cutting contracts in Irondequoit, with Director of Collection Operations Steve Cates explaining, “The safety of the general public of our employees is our highest priority, and the safety and traffic accident data from this route became too overwhelming to ignore. The route that includes 174 Irondequoit customers is unlike any other waste management route out of our Rochester, NY facility and includes several extremely narrow roads without any shoulders running through wooded and hilly neighborhoods. Some roads are private and thus often unplowed during the winter months.”

Despite the companies’ explanations, some residents believe they should have the right to choose their trash pickup service. “I don’t like someone telling me that our contract can be canceled because the town doesn’t agree that the waste management companies are down here into the contracts,” said Cathy Beaton, a resident.

The Irondequoit Town Board continues to address the issue and seek solutions for the community’s garbage collection concerns.

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