Annoyed about my town’s choice to grab its ankles instead of doing a proper rate increase for trash hauling, I’ve started calling around to other trash haulers in the area to find out what residential service would cost me from them.
One of the companies I wrote to is Casella. They’re literally less than a mile from my house and it says right on their site that they offer residential service. I’d like to say again…they’re based here in town. This was their response. [Name redacted by me]:
I am sorry to say that we do not service Auburn, MA for residential service. I am not sure with it being a municipality if there is another hauler that can service the town.
Sorry!
Thank you
~[removed][removed]
Customer Service Supervisor
Casella Waste Services
49 Sword St
Auburn, MA 01501
Phone: 508-860-2102
Fax: 508-755-3642
Call me crazy, but isn’t that the crux of anticompetitive behavior? One of the reasons that the cable companies were forced to allow others in the area on the same lines was that they were being hit with antitrust allegations. I’m wondering, isn’t that what the town of Auburn is doing if they prevent other haulers from servicing the town? This was my response to the CS rep:
Isn’t that anticompetitive behavior though? I’d be happy to call the town lawyers and offer to sue them for antitrust activities.The problem is that they don’t actually *do* anything other than collect the money. Problem with pickup? Call CMD. Street was skipped? Call CMD. Bill’s due, send us money. Ugh.You don’t happen to know where the nearest transfer station is, do you? At this point I’m happy to hitch up the trailer and do it myself.Incidentally, I do run a business out of my home. Do you provide business pickup? :)TomIsn’t that anticompetitive behavior though? I’d be happy to call the town lawyers and offer to sue them for antitrust activities.
The problem is that they don’t actually *do* anything other than collect the money. Problem with pickup? Call CMD. Street was skipped? Call CMD. Bill’s due, send us money. Ugh.
You don’t happen to know where the nearest transfer station is, do you? At this point I’m happy to hitch up the trailer and do it myself.
Incidentally, I do run a business out of my home. Do you provide business pickup? :)
Tom
I’m still waiting to see what Waste Management comes back with, but I’m thinking the ultimate answer may be for everyone to start their own little business and contract for business pickup instead. Can you call poking town paper pushers with a stick a business? Now where do I look to find a transfer station? Hmm…