Waterbury Questions Price Tag For Trash Removal

(Host) A Vermont town is struggling to pay a staggering garbage bill after Tropical Storm Irene, and officials there say one of two vendors is charging far too much.

VPR's Kirk Carapezza reports.

(Carapezza) Waterbury is facing a $160,000 dollar garbage bill.

(Butler) "I was a little stunned."

(Carapezza) Bob Butler is a Waterbury Select Board member. After the flood, he led the town's effort to remove all the trash and debris.

(Butler) "Everyone took an individual role or responsibility and I recognized the garbage as being a huge one that I could wrap my arms around."

(Carapezza) As the town's so-called ‘garbage czar,' Butler called in dumpsters for the clean up.

(Butler) "The amount of garbage was just unbelievable."

(Carapezza) Some 200 homes in Waterbury were affected by the storm, leaving more than a thousand tons of debris. So much that by day two stuffed dumpsters lining Main Street appeared to be just window dressing.

(Butler) "I think I logged over 200 cell phone calls the first day alone just trying to orchestrate, and many of those were to the vendors."

(Carapezza) Waterbury had two vendors - Casella Waste Management of Rutland and Myers Container Service of South Burlington.

The town did business with both of them, hoping to get the job done as soon as possible. Butler says the town thought it could negotiate the price later.

Now, Waterbury says it's in an awkward situation because Myers is charging $135 per ton compared to Casella, which is charging $95 dollars. That's 30 percent more.

A spokesman for Myers says it gave Waterbury a quote before mobilizing its trucks from as far away as Swanton and St. Johnsbury to transfer trash to a landfill in Moretown.

Myers says that it had to pay its staff overtime for working weekends and holidays, and that the company considers its price to be fair and consistent.

In the end, Waterbury still owes Myers $94,000, even after the company offered the town a $10,000 dollar discount to expedite the payment.

Town officials say they're still not satisfied with the company's explanation of why its service is more expensive, but they say the town will eventually pay the bill.

For VPR News, I'm Kirk Carapezza

(Host) What is your town doing to pay its garbage bill after Irene? Let us know at Public Post.