Area-wide trash-hauler GFL Environmental has been sold to the Priority Waste company which will assume the routes and contracts with area communities. The sale, announced to employees May 29, will affect waste hauling throughout the tri-county area. A spokesman for Priority Waste said the company will retain all 800 current employees of GFL and incorporate the current trash hauling vehicles and other equipment into the company fleet.
According to Priority Waste Director of Public Relations Matt Allen, maintaining current employees and equipment should ensure a seamless transition for customers. Beginning in July the rebranding and painting of the distinctive lime green GFL trucks will begin. The trucks in the fleet will eventually all be yellow, Allen said. The trucks may continue to have the GFL logo for a period of time, until all the repainting and rebranding of the vehicles is complete.
No financial details of the sale were released. Plymouth Township has
another two years of a five-year, $7 million contract with GFL while Canton Township officials approved a five-year, $26 million contract with GFL despite difficulties and service complaints from residents. In Canton, residents will receive new Priority Waste bins which should be used after July 29, officials said.
Northville Township has also reported some difficulties with the service provided by GFL. In a prepared statement from the communications department, delays in trash pickup and failure of GFL to complete routes were referenced, along with delays in trash pickup.
Northville Township Supervisor Mark Abbo said he had
recently been informed of the sale and change in service provider.
“The first thing we’re going to do is look at ou
r contract with GFL to see what our rights are,” Abbo said. “Then we’ll look at the kind of service Priority is providing to its customers, then determine what we’re doing to do. We need to do our due
diligence,” Abbo said.
Heise said he had reviewed the Plymouth Township contract with GFL which was “transferable” but would continue to monitor the services provided.
Westland signed a 10-year contract with Priority Waste in 2021 at a cost of $38,449,174. Officials said Priority was the lowest of three bids received for the contract. The City of Belleville also has a contract for trash hauling with Priority Waste, as does Sumpter Township.
