West Bloomfield Officials Working on Trash 'Opt Out' Solution

West Bloomfield Township Supervisor Michele Economou Ureste said Monday officials are working with the township's trash hauler to provide a "suitable remedy" for residents who are being billed for a service they don't want. 

Rizzo Environmental Services, a Sterling Heights-based company, took over waste and recycling services in November of 2012, after former hauler Richfield Equities filed for bankruptcy. Residents appeared at the Sept. 9 board meeting to complain that they're now being billed for the service, even though they don't use it.

Matt Bernstein said he has never used the township service, because he takes his trash to his business. "It's not the money, it's the principle of this whole thing," he said.  

In a letter sent to residents in March, director of development services Marshall Labadie wrote that the township had authorized Rizzo to provide waste and recycling services to all single family homes and multi-family residential properties that have curbside pick-up. On Monday, trustee Howard Rosenberg likened the situation to his never using police or fire services during his 28 years in the township.

"I think that the point is, it's a public policy issue that we're dealing with," he said. "We don't want some residents subsidizing other residents. We're one community. We have one trash collection. We pay for it equally, whether we use it or don't use it."