Overview
- Residents across Oakland, Macomb and Wayne counties have reported repeated missed or delayed trash and yard-waste pickups that left bags and overflowing carts on curbs and created foul odors and animal scavenging.
- St. Clair Shores approved Express Waste Services to begin service July 1 after voting not to renew Priority Waste’s contract, Dearborn Heights has put the company on notice and demanded a $13,000 deduction per missed or delayed May collection, and Chesterfield Township has posted an RFP for a 2028 replacement contract.
- Michigan’s Environment, Great Lakes and Energy department issued violations in April alleging Priority Waste stored solid waste overnight in vehicles and leaked contaminants from trucks, adding regulatory risk to municipal contract actions.
- Priority Waste says new owners TPG have committed roughly $190 million and the company has announced short-term fixes including 198 rental trucks, 91 automated side-load vehicles on order, 28 new drivers in training, improved cart-repair service and call-center upgrades.
- Whether service is restored will hinge on the company meeting its catch-up timelines, pending EGLE findings, and municipal procurement or enforcement decisions that could lead to more cities switching vendors or seeking financial penalties.