Published: August 21, 2008 12:12 am            

Open letter to Mr. David P. Steiner, Chief Executive Officer, Waste Management, Inc.:

After waiting over three weeks to have my yard wastes picked up by your company, I decided the time had come to express my extreme displeasure with Waste Management's ability to address the waste disposal needs of the residents of the city of Meridian.

It is my understanding that the contract in force between the City of Meridian and Waste Management, Inc. states that Waste Management will pick up yard wastes placed in the city right-of-way by city residents a minimum of one (1) time per week. I don't believe Waste Management is fulfilling their contractual obligations to the residents in Meridian and is making no concerted efforts to reach the compliance stipulated in the contract. For a world-wide company such as Waste Management not to be able to handle the wastes of a community the size of Meridian (population approximately 38,000) while claiming to be a leader in the waste collection business should be an embarrassment to Waste Management and an unacceptable situation to the leadership of Waste Management. To the residents living in Meridian, I believe Waste Management’s incompetency continues to tarnish our community’s self image and the image we try to share with visitors to Meridian. The problem is not the man on the trucks for they work hard. And it is not our local office who is totally at fault. And as Harry Truman stated, “the buck stops here” and “here” is with you, the company’s chief executive officer.

I will encourage all of my neighbors and all residents of the City of Meridian to contact their councilperson; as I have done numerous times; the Mayor’s office; who I have also contacted; and Waste Management; who I have contacted numerous times of the past weeks and months; and complain about the sub-par service I believe we are continuing to receive. I will encourage them to demand — not request — that the contract in force be abided by Waste Management and when that contract ends, to seek out a waste disposal company who can adequately meet the needs of the City of Meridian.



Steve McCartney

Meridian

        

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