Houston County Picks New Waste Collection Company. Here’s What’s Changing

HOUSTON COUNTY, Ga. — If you live in Houston County, you’ll start seeing changes to your trash pickup services next year.

Houston County commissioners voted to hire Ryland Environmental as the new waste disposal services company to replace Waste Management.

Within a year, on July 1, the company should take over, the public works office said.

“The difference is that some people only want to have garbage collection services. So if you’re only paying for garbage collection services and you’re not currently using them for recycling and yard waste, you’re paying for other people to use the service,” said Public Services Director Terry Diestch.

When Ryland Environmental takes over next year, Dietsch said residents will have to pay an annual fee to have their recyclables and yard waste removed.

In addition to the trash tax, Houston County residents will have to pay “an annual subscription through public works” for recycling services and/or yard waste removal, he added. Those who subscribe to recycling will receive 95-gallon bins from the county.

“For yard waste, you have to sign up for a membership,” says Diestch. “But for bulky waste, it will be included in your bins – but you have to call 72 hours in advance.”

Bulky waste includes items such as appliances, mattresses and furniture, according to operations manager Brian Jones.

For the past three years, Waste Management has been serving the residents of Houston County.

“Never leave anything on the ground, not even trash, that’s our motto,” said route manager Ashely Reeves.

Currently, people pay for all waste disposal services through their water bill. That also covers recycling and yard waste removal fees, in addition to the $23.16 garbage collection fee, according to Jones.

County commissioners voted to replace Waste Management with Ryland Environmental at last week’s meeting as they issued a request for proposals (RFP) that they opened to eight contractors.

Of these, half made offers; the two best offers considered were those of Waste Management and Ryland Environmental.

According to the public works department, Ryland Environmental’s bid was “selected based on price and value,” in addition to its offer to provide new equipment and technology. In particular, they proposed to provide trucks with ASLs, or automated side loading arms.

After the vote, Keanu Reeves said she had considered starting a petition on behalf of her team. On Sunday, she created and shared it.

“Maybe we should do this and get as many signatures as we can to show that there are so many people who care about us being here, and let them know and see if we get a second chance when it comes to the application,” Reeves said. “We’re honestly trying to see if this could help us.”

However, Jones believes the road ahead for the petitioners is fraught with pitfalls.

“I’m not sure the petition can accomplish much because the council has already voted and accepted Ryland,” Jones said.

Currently, the county said, Ryland is ordering equipment and vehicles for trash, recycling and yard waste collection services.