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Waste Connections says services in Biscayne Park won't change after acquisition of Great Waste
Summary
Representatives for Great Waste told the Village Commission they were acquired by Waste Connections on Aug. 18 but said local crews and service levels will continue and the larger company's equipment and transfer-station capacity could help with storm response.
Willie Hernandez, contract manager for Great Waste Recycling Services LLC, told the Village Commission on Nov. 4 that Waste Connections acquired Great Waste on Aug. 18 but that the company will maintain local staff and service for Biscayne Park residents.
At a presentation during the commission's regular meeting, Hernandez said, “We are your garbage provider here for the past 5 years,” and that the acquisition was intended to preserve and continue those local operations. He said all core staff remain in place and the company hopes to "continue forward" without operational changes.
Mark Wexler, who identified himself as representing Waste Connections, told commissioners the company is large and can draw on national resources in emergencies. Wexler said Waste Connections has roughly "$9,000,000,000 in annual sales, 24,000 employees, and, over 10,000 piece of equipment," and that the company maintains transfer stations and landfills that could be used to route South Dade waste by rail in circumstances where local disposal options are constrained.
Commissioners asked whether the transfer of ownership could lead to differential treatment of Biscayne Park compared with larger nearby municipalities during storm response. Wexler and Hernandez said the company intends to keep the same service patterns for the village and to deploy regional "blue teams" following major storms to restore pickup capacity when equipment or crews are damaged.
Manager Al (S14) said staff and the police had briefed the commission on the transition and that company representatives had been responsive to questions. The presentation drew public appreciation from several commissioners and residents who told the board they were pleased to hear service continuity would be preserved.
The presentation was informational; commissioners did not take formal action on the contract during the meeting. Mayor Jonathan E. Roth asked staff to keep the commission informed if service changes are proposed in the future.
