Yorktown Officials Failed to Secure a Reliable Garbage Hauler
Opinion Advocates for ideas and draws conclusions based on the author/producer’s interpretation of facts and data.
Hello! My name is Jann Mirchandani, and I am running for town supervisor in Yorktown. I’ve been a small business owner for 25 years, and I raised my kids in the Yorktown school system. I love my community and I’ve worked to give back through 15 years in scouting and work to support new businesses in the region.
What I don’t love is garbage piling up all over town.
Garbage pickup in Yorktown is, well, garbage. And unfortunately, our Town Board could have and should have seen this coming.
Competitive Carting, the new carting company selected by our board, went bankrupt in 2019 and lost a lucrative garbage contract with Westchester County for allegedly failing to pay their workers’ medical benefits. During the evaluation process, our board knew that Competitive only had two trucks – to do work that their predecessor needed seven trucks to complete.
As a small business owner, I need to research and critically evaluate any high-dollar decision. If, for example, I entered into a long-term contract with a client I couldn’t have confidence in, it would put my business in jeopardy. The board clearly did not do its due diligence – and now, we’re seeing those consequences.
Within one week of beginning their hauling garbage in Westchester, residents reported that Competitive missed garbage pickups, kept an inscrutable schedule and that its trucks were breaking down or leaching black fluid throughout the town.
Meanwhile, our Town Board was satisfied with Competitive’s assurances that “new routes” would fix the problem.
Then Competitive was fined by the Solid Waste Commission for mixing trash and recycling. This not only has obvious and terrible environmental consequences, but it is a brazen act of desperation. It clearly signals a business that is furiously trying to fulfill obligations it cannot.
The board, again, did nothing.
Only last week did the board decide to act, and only after Supervisor Diana did not have his garbage picked up. With no notice, Competitive was no longer picking up trash unless it was in 32-gallon bins.
I have called for the town to re-evaluate the contract. I, like many residents, have serious concerns that Competitive’s failures over the last seven months have breached it. But the board continues to abdicate leadership.
I write here to encourage residents that I share their anger. It seems that this board only responds when the problem gets out of hand.
On Nov. 7 this year, an alternative is available.
Jann Mirchandani
Candidate for Yorktown Supervisor
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