Garbage hauler wants out of contract

<p>GreenWaste Recovery, the South Bay company selected after Petaluma’s prolonged search for a garbage hauler in 2005, says it is leaving town.</p><!-- Nothing to do. The paragraph has already been output --><p>In a letter to the city last week, company president Richard Cristina sought permission to transfer the remainder of GreenWaste’s 10-year contract to Redwood Empire Disposal, City Manager John Brown said.</p><p>No timeline is given, but “They’re indicating they’d like us to consider this as soon as possible,” Brown said.</p><p>Reached by phone at his San Jose office Tuesday, Cristina cited the poor economy as a factor in the company’s decision, but said he couldn’t discuss specifics.</p><p>“Under the circumstances, it’s a smart business decision,” he said. “We’re in a very volatile market.”</p><p>The market for recyclable goods has plummeted along with the national economy, as demand for consumer products made for those goods has also fallen.</p><p>Recyclables have been backing up at the local recycling plant in Santa Rosa, the Press Democrat reported in November.</p><p>That plant is run by North Bay Corp., the parent company of Redwood Empire Disposal. North Bay collects garbage and recyclables in most of Sonoma County and some areas of Lake, Marin and Mendocino counties.</p><p>Cristina said the transfer of the contract is subject to the City Council’s approval. He pledged that Petaluma customers would not be affected.</p><p>“As far as the residents are concerned, everything will stay the same,” he said. “There will be absolutely no change in the service, the employees, the routes.”</p><p>Since taking over for Empire Waste Management in January 2006 and instituting “single-stream recycling” through the use of a single curbside container, GreenWaste has earned generally high marks from customers.</p><p>“They have been absolutely wonderful,” Councilmember David Glass said. “They provided the great services they promised they would. They worked hard to get the contract and I’m sure this was never in their game plan.”</p><p>(Contact Corey Young at corey.young@arguscourier.com)</p>