2023 Wildwood Waste Hauler Transition

REMOVAL OF OLD CARTS

The City has an important update regarding the progress of our initiative to remove old and unwanted trash and recycling carts from our City. We greatly appreciate your patience and understanding as our new waste haulers work towards this goal, and the City looks forward to the successful completion of this effort.

Gateway Disposal:

Gateway Disposal will be initiating a one-time effort to remove old trash and recycling carts. Beginning on Monday, August 28^th, 2023, Gateway Disposal will kick off this collection effort. If you are being serviced by Gateway Disposal, please follow the instructions listed below:

MARK YOUR CART(S): To ensure a smooth removal process, please mark your old cart with a sign that clearly states, "REMOVE." This will prevent any confusion and ensure that your removal request is properly acknowledged. Unmarked carts will not be removed.
Eligibility: Most old carts are eligible for free removal under this program. This includes blue "Meridian" carts, green "City of Wildwood" carts, and other previously used carts, with the exception of Waste Connections carts. If you still have Waste Connections carts, please contact Waste Connections directly at 636-321-2100 or wcmissouri@wasteconnections.com.
Leave Them Out: Gateway Disposal expects that it will require about two weeks to remove all the unwanted carts, so please be patient and leave your old cart(s) at the curb or edge of the street until they are gone.
Free Removal: Cart removal is provided as a one-time free service by Gateway Disposal to their current customers in Wildwood.
Placement: Starting Monday, August 28^th, 2023, place your old carts to be removed at the curb or edge of the street in front of your home. Leave them there until they are gone.
Cart Reuse: Participation in this program is voluntary. You can choose to keep your old carts if you prefer. Only Gateway Disposal branded carts can be used for trash and recycling collection. If you subscribe to the optional yard waste program, old carts can be re-purposed for yard waste collection.
Questions or Additional Information: For any questions or additional information, please direct your inquiries to Gateway Disposal at 314-900-2070 or visit their website at https://gatewaydisposalstl.com/.

Republic Services:

Republic Services will continue to collect old carts daily during their regular waste collection operations. Residents should place their old carts out at the curb on their regularly scheduled collection day. We kindly request that you place a note on your cart that says, "REMOVE." Unmarked carts will not be collected. Republic Services aims to collect as many old carts as possible alongside their trash, recycling, and yard waste pickup. If you notice that your trash, recycling, and yard waste were collected, but your old cart remains, it means that Republic Services did not have enough room in their truck to collect it. If this occurs, please remove it from the curb and put it out on your next collection day. Republic Services has brought in additional assets to assist with the collection effort. Republic Services expects to have all old carts removed by the end of August 2023. If you are being serviced by Republic Services, please follow the instructions listed below:

MARK YOUR CART(S): To ensure a smooth removal process, please mark your old cart with a sign that clearly states, "REMOVE." This will prevent any confusion and ensure that your removal request is properly acknowledged. Unmarked carts will not be removed.
Eligibility: Most old carts are eligible for free removal under this program. This includes blue "Meridian" carts, green "City of Wildwood" carts, and other previously used carts, with the exception of Waste Connections carts. If you still have Waste Connections carts, please contact Waste Connections directly at 636-321-2100 or wcmissouri@wasteconnections.com.
Put Them Out on Your Collection Day: Please place your old carts at the curb or edge of the street in front of your home on your regularly scheduled collection day. Republic Services aims to collect as many old carts as possible alongside their trash, recycling, and yard waste pickup. If you notice that your trash, recycling, and yard waste were collected, but your old cart remains, it means that Republic Services did not have enough room in their truck to collect it. If this occurs, please remove it from the curb and put it out on your next collection day. Republic Services aims to have all old carts collected by the end of August 2023.
Free Removal: Cart removal is provided as a free service by Republic Services to their current customers in Wildwood.
Placement: On your regularly scheduled collection day, place your old carts to be removed at the curb or edge of the street in front of your home.
Cart Reuse: Participation in this program is voluntary. You can choose to keep your old carts if you prefer. Only Republic Services branded carts can be used for trash and recycling collection. If you subscribe to the optional yard waste program, old carts can be re-purposed for yard waste collection.
Questions or Additional Information: For any questions or additional information, please direct your inquiries to Republic Services at 636-947-5959 or visit their website at https://www.republicservices.com/.

Important Notice:

Please remember to mark your old carts with a sign that says, "REMOVE." Unmarked carts will NOT be picked up during the removal process.

Please note that Republic Services and Gateway Disposal will allow residents to use old carts for yard waste. For residents opting to use their old cart for yard waste, a sticker will need to be placed on the cart. Both waste haulers will be providing the City with these stickers once all old carts are collected. The City will make an announcement once they become available. Residents will be able to pick up these stickers at City Hall.

Please note that your new service provider will not pick up Waste Connections carts. Waste Connections should have collected all Waste Connections carts after your last collection day. If you still have your Waste Connections cart(s), please contact Waste Connections directly at 636-321-2100 or wcmissouri@wasteconnections.com.

*Residents can help facilitate the collection of older carts by filling out the form below:

Republic Services Form: To schedule the bulk pickup of your old cart(s) with Republic Services, please complete this form.
Gateway Disposal Form: To schedule the bulk pickup of your old cart(s) with Gateway Disposal, please complete this form.

Waste Hauler Transition

The City of Wildwood is pleased to announce that, starting August 1st, 2023, residential solid waste, recycling, and yard waste services will be performed by Republic Services and Gateway Disposal. The City has entered into partnerships with these two highly reputable firms to provide an enhanced and efficient waste management experience for our residents. These two haulers have been carefully selected to ensure top-quality service and customer satisfaction.

The former provider of residential solid waste, recycling, and yard waste services concluded service on July 31st, 2023.

In light of the City's current solid waste service provider announcing its decision to stop service in the City at the end of its contract, the City solicited and received several different proposals. After careful evaluation and review, the Administration and Public Works Committee recommended, and the City Council approved, the selection of Republic Services and Gateway Disposal to split the service area within the City of Wildwood.

The City firmly believes that the partnerships with Republic Services and Gateway Disposal will not only meet but exceed the expectations of our residents. The decision to collaborate with these exceptional waste haulers was driven by the City's commitment to providing residents with the highest level of service, convenience, and sustainability.

Who is my New Waste Hauler?

Click the following link to determine your new waste hauler, effective August 1st:

Waste Hauler Service Provider Mapping Tool

If your home address is red, you have Republic Services, if your home address is blue, you have Gateway Disposal.

Republic Services

Republic Services will serve the urban, small-lot residential subdivisions, covering approximately 8,700 homes. Their expertise in waste management and commitment to environmental stewardship will undoubtedly elevate waste collection practices in Wildwood to new heights. The City is proud to have Republic Services as a partner, and their dedication to excellence aligns perfectly with the City's vision for a cleaner and greener Wildwood.

Republic Services Customer Service: 636-947-5959.

Gateway Disposal

Gateway Disposal will cater to the non-urban, large-lot properties, encompassing around 2,500 homes, generally situated on spacious 3-acre residential lots. Gateway Disposal's willingness to step forward and provide service to Wildwood's rural areas demonstrates their commitment to supporting the community as a whole. The City warmly welcomes Gateway Disposal and looks forward to their exceptional service in maintaining the cleanliness and beauty of Wildwood's rural areas.

Gateway Disposal Customer Service: 314-900-2070

New Carts to be Delivered

Under the new waste hauling agreements, both Republic Services and Gateway Disposal will provide automated collection. Solid waste and recycling must be placed into new carts provided by each hauler. Residents will receive a 65-gallon cart for recycling and a 95-gallon cart for trash. These new carts will be delivered to each customer beginning the week of July 10th. Please begin using your new cart with the new service beginning on August 1st, 2023.

Cart Adjustments

If you prefer a different size cart, you may request one from your hauler; however, please allow several weeks for Republic Services or Gateway Disposal to process those requests after the August 1st start date.

What if I Didn't Receive Carts?

Please call your applicable hauler. If you don't know your hauler, refer to the link above or map below;

Old Carts

Waste Connections will be removing their carts immediately following your last service day in July. Older Meridian carts (or personal carts) can be removed by scheduling a bulk pickup with your new hauler after August 1st. Republic Services will collect scheduled bulk pickup items during the last pickup of the month. Gateway Disposal will collect scheduled bulk pickup items during the third pickup of the month.

Billing

Your first bill will be sent in the mail around mid-August.

Senior Discount

The 15% senior discount should carry over with your account from Waste Connections.

How Do I Contact My Waste Hauler

Republic Services Customer Service: 636-947-5959

Gateway Disposal Customer Service: 314-900-2070

The cost for basic services during the first year (8/01/23-7/31/24) will be $31.93 per month for Republic Services and $43.00 per month for Gateway Disposal. A 15% Senior Discount will be available through both service providers. For residents receiving the 15% Senior Discount, the cost for basic services during the first year (8/01/23-7/31/24) will be $27.14 per month for Republic Services and $36.55 per month for Gateway Disposal.

Reasons for Cost Increase:

Several factors have contributed to the increase in price for residential solid waste, recycling, and yard waste services.

Capital requirements: To ensure efficient trash pickup, Republic Services has invested in six new trucks, while Gateway Disposal has purchased four small trucks to serve rural areas. Republic Services and Gateway Disposal also have to rent additional trucks for the first few months until their new fleets are delivered, incurring additional costs.

Rising labor costs: The waste hauling industry faces intense competition in hiring and retaining drivers. To attract and retain skilled drivers, both service providers have witnessed double-digit wage increases over the past 16-months, adding to the overall cost.

Increased maintenance expenses: Garbage trucks, even when new, require regular maintenance and attention. These maintenance costs are factored into the new rate to ensure reliable and efficient service.

Disposal costs and operational expenses: Trash, recycling, and yard waste are sent to different facilities, including landfills, recycling centers, and compost facilities. Since the pandemic, the cost of waste disposal at these facilities has significantly risen. Moreover, fuel prices have drastically increased since the City’s previous contract was negotiated in 2019. Service providers must also cover the cost associated with communication, routing, billing, and other operational expenses.

Overall, the City had to accept the price increase to ensure continued waste collection for all the residents of Wildwood. In February, the City’s current service provider declared its intent to terminate services at the end of its contract. Following this declaration, the City promptly took the necessary steps to secure waste collection services for our residents. While acknowledging the financial impact on residents, this decision was essential to maintain uninterrupted waste collection services in Wildwood. Please know that the City did everything possible to mitigate increased costs to our residents, while maintaining quality service providers.

Yard Waste:

Yard waste service will be provided by both service providers for an additional fee. The cost for yard waste service will be $18.80 per month for Republic Services and $10.75 per month for Gateway Disposal. The 15% Senior Discount will also be applied to yard waste service. Both service providers have been provided with a list of current yard waste customers, so you won't need to contact your new service provider to continue receiving this service. If you wish you to add or cancel yard waste service, you will need to contact your new service provider after August 1st, 2023.

What's Next?

To ensure a smooth transition, both Republic Services and Gateway Disposal will be reaching out to residents with detailed information about transitioning to their services. Both service providers will be sending out mailers in July. Additionally, residents can expect to receive updates via the City's Website, Weekly E-Newsletter, and social media pages (Facebook, Instagram, & Twitter).

The City of Wildwood is also actively seeking to hire a Resident Service Representative. This representative will be available to assist residents with any questions or concerns related to the new waste-hauling services. This new team member will help ensure a seamless transition for our community. The City is hoping to fill this position by mid-July.

Should you have any further questions or concerns, please contact the Department of Public Works.