Alternatives to South Orange Disposal?

We currently use South Orange Disposal for trash pickup, but a recent incident has left me interested in other options.

What other companies would anyone recommend for routine residential curbside trash collection twice a week in South Orange?

No other options in SO. Yay monopoly!

Yeah, they don't have to keep you happy. You have to keep them happy. Better go apologize to them.

94% of trash is compostable or recyclable. 

For the other 6%, yeah, South Orange disposal is your only option.

Or you could move to Maplewood.

I have never had an issue with S. O Disposal.  I put out the garbage and they pick it up.  like clockwork.  I tip them twice a year and they take any extra garbage as well.  

mikescott said:

I have never had an issue with S. O Disposal.  I put out the garbage and they pick it up.  like clockwork.  I tip them twice a year and they take any extra garbage as well.  

Same here. They're good guys, and the few times over the years that I've had to contact the office they've been very helpful and responsive.

cramer said:

mikescott said:

I have never had an issue with S. O Disposal.  I put out the garbage and they pick it up.  like clockwork.  I tip them twice a year and they take any extra garbage as well.  

Same here. They're good guys, and the few times over the years that I've had to contact the office they've been very helpful and responsive.

Agee with both these statements  never a problem, friendly when I interact, transparent to the user !!

I've never had a problem with them but it did take me over 2 years to get a new sticker for my trash can...

I have had no problems, and I am glad we are using a locally owned and operated business.

The problem with them is there is no included bulk trash pickup and the options for getting them to pick something up is expensive. There's a town next to us that has sensible bulk trash pickup options. I'd like to be able to choose between companies based on options, or have a town-run service that fits most people's needs. From talking with neighbors I haven't met one that is happy with the bulk pickup options in South Orange!

I as like my guys from South Orange Disposal.  No problems here, very polite, etc. I tip them for the holidays only, so will have to consider twice a year.  However as stated in this thread, I sure would like bulk pick up like Maplewood has.  

I, too, prefer to use local companies when possible.  And I have no issue with the garbage truck guys.  Unfortunately, one of their carting trucks recently damaged my driveway.  Accidents happen, but the attitude of the company owners in responding to this matter has been patently offensive.  I no longer wish to provide them with my business.

I never had a problem with pickup until they went to the option of choosing how often and how much you want picked up. I pay for 2 cans/2x a week. I usually put out one. I used to leave it on the side of the house, but they kept missing it so I moved it to the front of the house and they still keep missing it. Yesterday, I was home and they didn't pick up so I chased them down the street. The guy apologized and blamed the other guy... And yes, I tip them at the holidays and I was polite to them just frustrated that they keep missing my garbage. I have called many times.

In 15 years only had a few issues with SO Disposal. However that isn't the point. The issue is that there is no justifiable reason why we don't have the option of bulk pickup from either a private company or the town. Very bizarre and very disrespectful to taxpayers. 

glpratt said:

I, too, prefer to use local companies when possible.  And I have no issue with the garbage truck guys.  Unfortunately, one of their carting trucks recently damaged my driveway.  Accidents happen, but the attitude of the company owners in responding to this matter has been patently offensive.  I no longer wish to provide them with my business.

Do you mean that you ordered a dumpster and it gouged your driveway?  They frequently do, which is why I try to land them on plywood scraps when I can.  

librarylady said:

cramer said:

mikescott said:

I have never had an issue with S. O Disposal.  I put out the garbage and they pick it up.  like clockwork.  I tip them twice a year and they take any extra garbage as well.  

Same here. They're good guys, and the few times over the years that I've had to contact the office they've been very helpful and responsive.

Agee with both these statements  never a problem, friendly when I interact, transparent to the user !!

Add me to the list of a satisfied customer for over 20 years.

annielou said:

In 15 years only had a few issues with SO Disposal. However that isn't the point. The issue is that there is no justifiable reason why we don't have the option of bulk pickup from either a private company or the town. Very bizarre and very disrespectful to taxpayers. 

I could be wrong, but I have seen posts in the past on MOL that made me believe South Orange doesn't have bulk pickup not because SO Disposal isn't willing to provide it but because a member of the BOT at the time didn't approve of having piles of stuff on the side of the road awaiting pickup. I wonder if the current BOT has a position on bulk pickup.

If true, that would be laughable.  I can understand a debate over cost, but some larger household trash even once a month/quarter?  That's just silly.

ctrzaska said:

If true, that would be laughable.  I can understand a debate over cost, but some larger household trash even once a month/quarter?  That's just silly.

I thought so too, but that was definitely the impression I got from reading his posts.

Has anyone from SO contacted Sheena to see if the bulk pick-up issue can be revisited?

I don't see how one member of the board could be the cause of ending bulk pick-up.  I hated it because of the large number of people who came by and went thru the boxes of garbage and left a mess.  

I am sure there is a cost to it and not sure I want to have my taxes go to help people get rid of their junk.  They can call any number of private service or S. Orange Disposal to pick up their junk.  Personally, my neighbor and myself split a dumpster.  Cost us each $300.00 and we got rid of 20 years worth of junk, old appliances, tons of kids toys, etc.  And I did it at my convenience. 

I'm pretty sure that Maplewood has the bulk pickup option because the TC made it a requirement for the companies bidding to provide us with garbage service.  So I think the SO Board of Trustees is who you need to be directing this complaint to.  Also, my impression is that our service and pricing options in Maplewood improved as a result of the competition between two haulers.  (i.e. Waste Management got better once Waste Industries came in.)  I don't know if there are other haulers interested in serving SO, but if so, you probably want to encourage the BOT to entertain additional bids.

FilmCarp said:

glpratt said:

I, too, prefer to use local companies when possible.  And I have no issue with the garbage truck guys.  Unfortunately, one of their carting trucks recently damaged my driveway.  Accidents happen, but the attitude of the company owners in responding to this matter has been patently offensive.  I no longer wish to provide them with my business.

Do you mean that you ordered a dumpster and it gouged your driveway?  They frequently do, which is why I try to land them on plywood scraps when I can.  

I don't know if that is what glpratt is talking about, but just this morning I called SO Disposal to inquire about a dumpster for a future project. I did ask what I could do to prevent damage to the asphalt driveway and the person I spoke with said to put 2x4's out and they would place them under the wheels when the dumpster was delivered.

mikescott said:

Personally, my neighbor and myself split a dumpster.  Cost us each $300.00 and we got rid of 20 years worth of junk, old appliances, tons of kids toys, etc.  And I did it at my convenience. 

A lot of us would rather get rid of stuff regularly rather than deal with a 20-year accumulation.

As something goes by the wayside, I put it out.  Never more than four days away from it being gone.  No phone calls, no wait, no fuss.

kthnry said:

mikescott said:

Personally, my neighbor and myself split a dumpster.  Cost us each $300.00 and we got rid of 20 years worth of junk, old appliances, tons of kids toys, etc.  And I did it at my convenience. 

A lot of us would rather get rid of stuff regularly rather than deal with a 20-year accumulation.

That option is there now -- you can call S. Orange disposal or one of many places that offer the service.  I always just paid S. Orange disposal.  never cost me more than $80.00 and done at my convenience.  Normally it was at least 20 bags or junk, some larger items (even a treadmill one time) as well as construction debris.  

mikescott said:

kthnry said:

mikescott said:

Personally, my neighbor and myself split a dumpster.  Cost us each $300.00 and we got rid of 20 years worth of junk, old appliances, tons of kids toys, etc.  And I did it at my convenience. 

A lot of us would rather get rid of stuff regularly rather than deal with a 20-year accumulation.

That option is there now -- you can call S. Orange disposal or one of many places that offer the service.  I always just paid S. Orange disposal.  never cost me more than $80.00 and done at my convenience.  Normally it was at least 20 bags or junk, some larger items (even a treadmill one time) as well as construction debris.  

It's great that you are willing and able to stockpile your junk until it becomes cost-effective to pay someone to haul it away. Others of us don't have a lot of storage space or tolerance for clutter. So say, for example, I want to get rid of a kitchen chair with a broken leg and a warped snow shovel. I should leave them in a corner of my living room for a few years? Or pay $80 to have them picked up? Or sacrifice a Saturday sitting in line at one of the six container days per year (with none between October and April)? None of these really seem like reasonable options. I've never lived in a place that made it so difficult to get rid of junk.

Or keep it hidden away in a corner of your basement... ::Sigh::