Garbage pickups will continue after judge’s decision

Gwinnett County officials said Friday the county’s existing garbage pickup system will continue to operate after a judge blocked the start of a new plan that consolidated collections and mandated and expanded recycling.

“While we still believe in the basic concepts of the new solid waste plan — reducing waste in our landfills and increasing recycling opportunities — we will look at adjustments to the plan in the next year, keeping in mind concerns gleaned from our constituents,” County Administrator Jock Connell said in a statement.

The new program had been set to begin Jan. 2, but was derailed Thursday when Superior Court Judge Michael C. Clark granted an injunction to stop it. Clark said the county had improperly delegated governmental powers to Gwinnett Clean and Beautiful Services, a private non-profit corporation charged with implementing the new plan. He also objected to the method by which it awarded contracts.

Some residents are receiving two garbage collection bills this month — one from their hauler under the new system and one from their current hauler. Most of the major haulers serving residents in unincorporated Gwinnett welcomed the judge’s decision and say they plan to continue operations.

Jeanie Dubinski, general counsel for Waste Pro, one of the two haulers GC&B Services selected for the new program, said those residents who have paid for service will receive it. Those who paid the first-month’s bill will receive service through January, she said, adding that the company sent out the bills in accordance with its contract with GC&B Services.

The other company contracted under the now-voided program was Advanced Disposal. Attempts to reach company officials were unsuccessful.

A spokesman for Republic Services, the county’s largest hauler with some 90,000 accounts, said its trucks will continue to roll. “There should be no change in services for any of the customers that we’ve served in the past,” said company spokesman Will Flower.

Republic operates in Gwinnett County as BFI and Robertson Sanitation. BFI customers were assessed a $23.50 transition fee in September to help pay for closing operations at the end of the year. That fee, Flower said, is now being waived, and customers will receive a full credit.

A spokesperson for Waste Industries, which imposed the same fee in late November, said the company hopes to make an announcement of its plans Monday.

Both Southern Sanitation and Sanitation Solutions, the two companies that filed for the injunction, say they will continue service with no interruption.

“We’re going to continue to offer the customers service as usual,” said Red Oak Sanitation operating manager Anthony Grutadaurio. The company serves about 4,000 Gwinnett households.