PARKER — Parker residents soon will have fewer options for trash service.
Trucks labeled “Parker Sanitation” made what could be their last weekly rounds Friday as Parker’s main service provider for trash services. Waste Management, one of the largest trash haulers in North America with more than 20 million customers in the U.S., Canada and Puerto Rico — and Parker’s number two service provider — was in the process of acquiring the company earlier that day.
Neither Waste Management nor Parker Sanitation’s parent company, Advanced Disposal, would discuss conditions of the sale, whether employees could expect to keep their jobs or the going price as negotiations continued Friday, anticipating a final deal by 5 p.m.
Though all private trash hauling companies within Parker are required to have contracts with the city, officials were not notified of the possible consolidation of its top two trash haulers.
“Our city wasn’t notified and per their contract we were supposed to be notified when sales occur,” Mayor Richard Musgrave said Wednesday. “Since I’m also a customer, up until now, the customers haven’t been notified either.”
Permission to conduct trash business in Parker hinges on a franchise agreement with the city. In October, officials discovered some garbage haulers — namely Parker Sanitation — were not heeding the city’s price limitation of $20 plus a 5 percent franchise fee. Some of the companies were required to provide customers with refunds.
Council members removed price limitations and gave the city’s six trash haulers a chance to decide their rates, list their rates with the city and modify those rates annually in November.
The question is whether Waste Management will respect rates set by Parker Sanitation, though little difference exists between the two. Parker Sanitation charges $21 for weekly pickup and $30 for twice a week, while Waste Management charges $20 for weekly pickup. Both provide trash cans.
Rene Faucheux, Waste Management’s regional communications officer, would not say if customers could expect their twice-weekly service to be discontinued.
“It’s an open market, although we do have to have a franchise agreement,” he said.
Musgrave was unsure if Waste Management was legally required to respect an agreement between Parker and Parker Sanitation but said he would attempt to hold the company to it until the agreement expires.
Faucheux directed any customer inquiries to 850-874-8006.