Waste Services allowed to pick up trash in Village of Pelham until Thursday, says Mayor Chance Mullen

By Charlotte Howard, Executive Editor|September 9, 2019

Pelham garbage contractor Waste Services Inc. will be able to pick up trash in the Village of Pelham until Thursday, according to Mayor Chance Mullen.

“On August 1, 2019, the Westchester Solid Waste Commission suspended Waste Services’ license to operate within Westchester County,” Mullen said in an emailed statement. “The Village of Pelham issued a notice of termination to Waste Services, which allowed them 30 days to cure this breach of contract, on or before this Thursday, September 12, 2019. Residents should know that the village has been working diligently to try to ensure there will be no interruption in service if Waste Services does not cure the breach in time.”

Waste Services attorney John Murtagh said Friday that service would stop on Monday, rather than Thursday.

Several residents in Chester Park and Pelville, which are the neighborhoods that receive Monday pick-up, reported via Facebook and email their garbage had been collected.

It remains unclear what will happen on Friday because Mullen said, “Given the uncertainty of what may occur, there will be no further comment on this matter at this time, but information will be shared when the circumstances permit.”

Pelham Heights, Pelhamwood, the apartment buildings and homes on Fifth Avenue, Wolfs Lane and Lincoln Avenue and all merchants receive Friday garbage and recycling collection.

Waste Services is suing the solid waste commission in state supreme court over the loss of its license, but it is unlikely a decision will come down by Thursday.

The solid waste commission suspended the company’s license “based on a decision by state Supreme Court Justice Terry Jane Ruderman against (Waste Services owner Joseph) Spiezio,” Peri Alyse Kadanoff, executive director of the commission, said in a statement at the time. “The suspension was based on Spiezio’s conduct surrounding his unjust enrichment and lack of credibility, among other things, which conveys his good character, honesty and integrity.”

But the commission granted Waste Services a waiver to continue collecting garbage in Pelham until Sept 17, according to Murtagh. The waiver also applied to Rye Brook, which is  Waste Services’ other municipal customer.