The Township entered into an eight-year contract with Priority Waste in early 2024, and many residents have experienced challenges with billing, missed pickups, litter, and customer service. Those concerns became particularly noticeable this past July.
Along with DPW Director Noah Mehalski, we have been meeting regularly with representatives from Priority Waste, including its new CEO, Aaron Johnson. He has shared with us many of the changes the company is making to address the equipment and staffing challenges that have contributed to these issues. He has assured us that these changes are intended to provide more reliable and responsive service, both for curbside pickup and for addressing billing questions by phone or email.
We also learned that Priority Waste experienced significant financial challenges as of September 2025. Since then, the company has taken several steps to strengthen its operations, including securing a $200 million private equity investment. The company has indicated that these additional resources will help support improvements in equipment, staffing, and service.
Priority Waste has also purchased 70 new trucks, with 12 earmarked for Bloomfield Township. These trucks are designed to operate more efficiently, allowing operators to pick up, empty, and return trash containers more quickly, with an estimated 25% speed improvement over previous equipment and will reduce the amount of litter left behind during collection.
The company has also scaled back its sports sponsorship programs and redirected those resources toward communities. In addition, Priority Waste has increased employee benefits and salaries and created uniform allowances as part of its efforts to attract and retain qualified drivers.
You have likely seen news reports about actions taken by other communities across Southeast Michigan, including changing vendors or withholding payments. Please know that Bloomfield Township is carefully evaluating all of our options as we work to provide residents with the reliable, high-quality waste service they expect.
We are actively monitoring service levels and reviewing the remedies available to us under our contract, including liquidated damages when appropriate. Our Public Works Department will also continue to address litter left behind after collection and seek reimbursement from the contractor for that work when appropriate.
At the same time, finding a replacement waste hauler capable of serving a community our size presents significant challenges. Our previous vendor now offers only commercial services, while other vendors we have spoken with either do not currently have the staff and equipment necessary to serve our community or have proposed significantly higher costs, in some cases potentially doubling the cost of waste collection and adding charges for services beyond waste and recycling pickup.
We are encouraged by the changes being made at Priority Waste and hope the company’s new leadership, additional resources, and investments in equipment and employees will lead to meaningful and sustained improvements for Bloomfield Township.
Our goal is, and will continue to be, providing residents with the first-class service they expect and deserve. We will continue to closely monitor Priority Waste’s performance and evaluate all available options to ensure that goal is met.
Please continue to communicate with us about missed pickups, litter, service concerns, or billing issues. Your feedback is important and helps us identify areas that need attention. We will continue to keep residents informed.
Mike McCready, Bloomfield Township Supervisor | 248.433.7700 | mmccready@bloomfieldtwpmi.gov
As published in the Fall 2026 Township newsletter.