Trash Removal Services

Trash removal service has been a sensitive topic in many Middleridge homes during the past year primarily because of the AAA Disposal Company's inconsistent billing practices and slow customer call center support. For the most part, AAA's operations for trash pickup services have been considered by many as excellent. The $55.50 per quarter rate negotiated 3 years ago is scheduled to end on April 1. The Civic Association Board solicited volunteers to form a research and negotiation committee to develop options with a bit of competition. The committee began research and discussions with the five trash haulers serving the Middleridge area in late January and subsequently received 4 proposals.

The following services were requested:

1. Refuse at the curb picked up twice weekly. The pick-ups will occur between the hours 6:00 AM and 6:00 PM., or as soon thereafter as possible. In addition to refuse removal, lawn debris to be removed once per week, this will occur April 1 through the second Tuesday in January. Recyclables will be removed once per week.

2. Recyclable items to include glass jars and bottles of any color, plastic containers marked with the recycling symbol number 1 or 2.
    Aluminum and tin cans
    Newspaper, magazines and glossy inserts
    Glass, plastics, aluminum and metal cans should be placed in recycle bins or in paper bags and placed at the curb.

RESULTS
The proposals from both American and AAA were considered competitive. The rates proposed are:

                       Monthly   Quarterly
American         $20.10     $60.30
AAA               $20.99     $62.97

Notes: Both proposals contain a clause that allows an annual Consumer Price Increase (CPI) increase on the agreement anniversary date. This has traditionally been between 2.1 & 3 percent. The proposals also allow the trash hauler to pass on a Fairfax County increase in the "tipping fee". There was a recent increase of $2.50 per ton, so based upon the County estimate that each family produces about 2 tons per year this could mean an increase of about $0.41 per month. Increases in the tipping fees traditionally have not occurred every year.


Recommendation
The volunteer committee's recommendation to the Board was to continue using AAA as Middleridge's primary trash hauler. This recommendation was based upon AAA's excellent trash hauling service and commitment to rectify their customer service and billing operations.
Note: A letter received from AAA on March 3 indicated that all the bills sent to Middleridge homeowners during the second week in February for under payment of previous invoices should be ignored.

In order to maintain continued competition for Middleridge trash hauling the Civic Association Board has decided to publish the rates received from the top two favorable companies. Accordingly, individual homeowners will have the option to select the trash hauler of their choice.