Good afternoon!

With snow in the forecast, Mid Michigan Waste Authority would like to take this opportunity to remind our member communities about our policies and protocols related to weather-related service impacts. While many of you will have seen this before, I encourage everyone to take a look for a quick refresh.

While WM (and soon to be Priority Waste)drivers make every effort to collect materials on schedule, they are cautioned against attempting service if driving conditions are hazardous. Safety is always MMWA, WM, and Priority Waste’s shared priority. In preparation for this season’s weather challenges, MMWA would like to again share our Inclement Weather Service Impact Plan.

• Roads that are found to be impassable when a truck goes by will not have collection service reattempts until the community’s regular service day the following week. If an area is unable to be serviced two weeks in a row, MMWA may work with the affected community to develop an alternate service option, such as a roll-off dumpster being placed at your township hall for resident use. Please contact us if you would like to learn more about this option.
• MMWA staff work closely with both the WM and Priority Waste teams to get timely information about road conditions. When there is weather that adversely affects service in a community – whether it is a complete cancellation of that day’s service or an area/road that cannot be completed – MMWA communicates these impacts to the affected community’s trustee and alternate via email. While MMWA prefers that the trustee and alternate forward these announcements to pertinent staff, you may provide us with the names/emails of additional personnel who should be added to your weather impact contact list. Even if you have provided this contact information in the past, we need an updated contact list for the 2022 winter season. On snowy and icy days, please keep an eye on your email so you have the latest information about how the weather could be affecting collection in your community.
• MMWA will keep its Facebook page and website updated with collection service impacts, and this information may be added to MMWA’s outgoing phone greeting. Press releases will be distributed to all daily media outlets in the event of a complete community cancellation. In addition to these longstanding communication platforms, three area television stations – NBC25, WEYI25, and FOX66 – will be including refuse collection cancellations (when services are cancelled for the entire community) in their weather delay/school closing lists. Please encourage your residents to check these stations’ emergency closing lists in the event of inclement weather on their service day. Remember, this information will only be on the school closing list if there is a complete cancellation of service in a community.
• As a reminder, the media sometimes refers to other communities and counties as being located in “mid-Michigan,” which can cause confusion. This is why it is important to remember that MMWA will always make an announcement when weather conditions impact service. If you do not hear from us and there is no announcement on our Facebook page or website, you and your residents should assume that trash collection will be attempted as scheduled. Please encourage your residents to follow the MMWA Facebook page, because that is the easiest way to get timely service updates.
• Please note that while MMWA staff are committed to keeping our community partners informed about weather-related collection service issues, we too live in areas that may be impacted by weather conditions or resulting power outages. Please be patient if you cannot reach someone at our office; for best results email MMWA at [email protected] and Cc: Syndi at [email protected]. We will respond to your questions or concerns as soon as we are able.

While we can’t control the weather and its impact on curbside collection services, there are some things residents can do to make sure their trash is picked up and drivers stay safe. Please share the attached Winter Weather Tips flyer with your residents via your website, social media accounts, or public area bulletin boards.