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By DONALD MOTTERN | Staff Writer

PELHAM – Following recent challenges in waste collection services, Pelham has announced their approval allowing AmWaste to utilize a second-party vendor to bolster waste collection services.

While speaking at a Pelham City Council meeting on July 1, Pelham City Manager Gretchen DiFante reported that recent discussions between Pelham, the Cahaba Solid Waste Authority and AmWaste highlighted issues arising from the implementation of a revised collection schedule that went into effect at the end of March.

“I reported roughly six weeks ago that we and the Cahaba Solid Waste Authority were having some challenges with AmWaste (surrounding) when the new schedule was started,” DiFante said. “We agreed then that we would have a follow-up meeting within a month.”

That subsequent follow-up meeting was held on Friday, June 28 and saw AmWaste update Pelham on these concerns and focused on how the company had begun to rectify service issues throughout its coverage areas. In addition to upcoming technology that will see trucks tracked on a stop-by-stop basis and more routine hydraulic system checks, AmWaste has also contracted a second-party service to bolster their coverage.

“They have used Nature Chasers for bulk collections in Hoover now for a few weeks and the service levels have been much improved,” DiFante said.

DiFante also noted that AmWaste sought to extend that secondary service to Pelham, but first needed the city’s permission, as stipulated in their contract, before extending the arrangement.

“We did give them permission and (Nature Chasers) will now be doing bulk collection and yard waste removal in Pelham,” DiFante said. “They will (also) be coming behind the regular trucks so that anything (AmWaste) cannot fit on the regular every 10-day route—or anything that is put in the request tracker that they cannot handle—can be taken care of.”

Acknowledging positive feedback that has been seen from Hoover residents since the addition of the secondary services, DiFante also expressed optimism about the collaboration.

“We look forward to working with them and I’ve heard very positive feedback about their work from Hoover,” DiFante said. “We’re glad they are coming.”

Nature Chasers is now currently operating within Pelham in a supportive capacity.