ALL STAR WASTE SYSTEMS

We and owners of several other houses live on a private street within the city of Memphis. We pay the city-mandated garbage collection fee without MLGW bill, but we must contract privately for the service. The group of residents has a collective agreement with All-Star Waste Systems. In 2006, All-Star stopped picking upun-bagged yard waste. When we complained, we were told that shrubs and tree limbs were too long to be managed by the crews. We were told to cut all limbs to 3 feet and stack them for pick up. We did, but All-Star did not collect them. When we contacted the company, we were told that we would have to pay 12.00/month additional per household for yard waste collection service. We have done this since 2006 and the fee increased in 2010 to 15.00. Despite this, collection of bagged and unbagged yard waste has been erratic at best. Crews on the regular weekly garbage collection can decide whether or not to pick up the yard waste, and they often do not. When we inquire, we are told that the bags are too heavy, the sticks not neatly stacked, The crews have shown interest in "tips," and, unfortunately they have been paid occasionally, which only makes them less likely to perform regular service. After several weeks pass, yard waste may accumulate. At this point, we are told that we have to order a top-loader, which would cost an additional fee. Recently, we did that and still nothing happened. We were told that overhead wires on the street interfered with the top-loader. Since we have buried utilities and no over head wires, this was clearly another lame excuse. After speaking with the manager, a top-loader did collect 6 weeks worth of accumulated yard waste, and no additional fee was charged. We hope that the service will improve and stabilize, but we have been through this many times in 5 years. Why don't we change services? Because getting several families to agree seems impossible, and hope springs eternal. All-Star was acquired by a new company last year. We'll see if service improves. In the meanwhile, based on experience, I would not recommend All-Star and I would not support the privatization of garbage service that is now under consideration by city council. This story might become everyone's story in the City of Memphis.