Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Waste Management Service Failures topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Federal Way homeowner urges city to enforce Waste Management contract after repeated missed pickups
Summary
Homeowner Eugene Beauregard told the council Waste Management twice left yard- and trash-collection uncollected on his Twelfth Court SW cul-de-sac, and he asked the city to hold the contractor to a 2020 service agreement clause requiring smaller trucks where streets are narrow.
Eugene Beauregard, a homeowner in the English Gardens neighborhood, told the Federal Way City Council on May 6 that Waste Management repeatedly suspended collection on his cul-de-sac because drivers said the street was "blocked," even though residents said the street was passable.
Beauregard said the city's 2020 contract with Waste Management requires the company to supply smaller collection trucks where streets are too narrow for standard vehicles. "Under the terms of that contract, Waste Management assured the city that they had examined all parts of this city and they could provide service and they were aware that in some instances that service may be hindered by narrow streets," Beauregard said during public comment.
Why it matters: Residents pay for weekly collection and expect service. Beauregard said his cul-de-sac, Twelfth Court Southwest off 330 First, missed yard- and green-waste pickup at least twice in April and that the company has periodically refused service for more than a year. He said he supplied a photograph taken by a Waste Management driver that was used to justify the termination of service and asked the council to "examine the possibility of making Waste Management responsible for the commitment that they made, which essentially is to deliver the service that we're paying for."
Beauregard told the council the city and Waste Management previously acknowledged negligence in fall 2023 and issued a $15 refund to each of the eight residences on his cul-de-sac for several missed collections, but he said the refund required substantial effort to obtain. "They did admit their negligence and the city acknowledged their negligence, but determined specifically not to discipline them for the negligence," he said. He said the city instead installed a "no parking on garbage days" sign for part of the cul-de-sac; he said the posted restriction does not cover the area where vehicles park.
Council members asked clarifying questions about the addresses involved and how service was handled when trucks could not access the street. Council Member Honda asked, "So when Waste Management can't get their truck back there, what happens with your garbage? Is it not picked up?" Beauregard replied the driver did not pick up yard waste on the reported dates and that the issue is especially disruptive in April because many residents are gardeners and generate large volumes of yard waste.
No formal council action, motion or vote occurred during the public-comment segment. Council President and staff told Beauregard the administration will follow up and that the matter will be routed to the appropriate staff for a report back.
Ending: Beauregard asked the council to pursue enforcement of the vendor's contractual obligations; council members acknowledged the complaint and staff said they would continue to investigate and report back.
