Waste Management [WM]
Reviews and Complaints

On Monday January 30th, I called Waste Management to arrange a "bulk pickup", (a service WM provide to SCV residences for up to 4 items per year), and was told to have them out on curbside on my regularly trash pick up day that Wednesday February 1st. The three items I asked for pick up (one mattress and two box springs) were put out with my trash as requested. I was home that day and observed my regular trash pick up be collected, but not the items for the bulk pick up. My last recycled trash can was picked up at 6 pm, but the mattresses were still there. I was hoping they were running late, but by morning, they were still not picked up. I called WM and a representative said the driver said did not pick it up since he said it was an unsafe. I asked what that meant but he didn't know. He said he would reschedule for next week and I said that was unacceptable since rain was forecasted for the upcoming week, and that would be soaked, heavy, and unsightly. He took my number and said he would escalate the matter and see if they could get it sooner, by he never called back.

I don't believe this matter can wait and request any help in resolving this matter.

I switched to waste management from rumpke and paid for a year in advance to get a reduced rate. I moved after 8 1/2 months and was told in writing that I would get a refund of the remaining balance paid. I cancelled my service on 11/11/16. It is now 1/27/17 and I am still fighting with them to get my refund! At this point, I have given up all hope of ever receiving it! Customer service is horrible! Stay far, far away from waste management!

WM negotiated a new contract with Washoe County, Nevada and those changes were scheduled to take effect on Feb 1, 2017. However, with no authority to support the decision they implemented the changes in mid January. I was invoiced for and paid for 7 can curbside pick up (using my containers). The invoice was for the 3 month period ending Jan 31, 2017. On Jan 18 and Jan 25 WM has taken 2 of 5 cans and left the other 3. They stated that the change allowed them to only take 2 cans. We have called customer service 10 times. Yes that's right 10 phone calls to customer service with repeated requests to have the route manager return our calls and resolve the problem. No returned calls, we are just ignored. I'm willing to abide by the new rules WHEN the go into effect. Right now I just want what I paid for!

For the past year WM has had an invoice on my account that says unnapply. I have called more than once to ask what this charge is for. I would have ignored it had they even told me what it was for but they cannot, and every time I make a payment the date of the unapply invoice changes. They cannot explain this nor can they tell me what this is for. The last woman I spoke with refused to let me talk to a supervisor and she was very rude, stating that it was a billing error and "don't worry about it" when asked what the error was she kept repeating "don't worry about it". This is very unprofessional.

My husband resumed our trash pick up after us being away for a year. The bill was paid in full. Was told trash pickup would resume the following monday, aug. 1st, the usual garbage day. Monday came and the trash had not been picked up. I called them tuesday, wednesday and thursday... Each day I was promised by customer service that the trash would be picked up the next day. It wasn't. Then I was told I would have to wait until the following garbage day, august 8th. This is the second week in a row and the trash is still sitting out there. I called customer service once again and the woman hung up on me. I called corporate and was told they would call me back... They didn't. My husband called customer service again and was told they would pick up the garbage tonight. It's still there. It's a health hazard and the worst customer service I have ever received. This is just unbelievable! Every day they lie and say they will do what I paid for... But nothing! I don't even know why they have not picked it up. They give no explanation.

Had a existing contract with another solid waste company that WM bought out and is now charging fees that are not authorized nor a part of the contract. We have had to paid these additional fees on our monthly invoices for fear of WM of wrecking our good credit rating. I have been fighting with WM for several months about getting a refund and even agreed to sign a new WM contract in order to get my promised refund. Since I don't trust this company, I told them I would sign the new contract when they issued a credit or gave me a refund check. WM said they could not issue a refund since this was such a large amount, $4, 386.08, they could only issue a check and that required going thru their approval cycle. 12 weeks later they finally have the check and want me to come to their office to sign the new contract. During this 12 week period, WM continues to charge those unauthorized fees. Now WM is saying they will issue credit to our account when the contract is signed. The overcharges are now $5, 959.32.

We place all four trash cans at the curb every Monday morning for pick up Tuesday. Tuesday Oct 20 2015 two green waste cans were not picked up. We called Waste management Tuesday after other green waste cans had beeb picked up.The woman at waste management said just leave the cans out and she would have the truck return and collect the green waste. We called again Wed, they were not picked up. We called thurs a woman said it takes 48 hours to pick up after a missed service. We called Friday morning a woman said she would make sure the green waste was picked up. Friday at 3pm we called, a boy started asking me questions, like did we put them out Mon? Are they contaminated? At that point We said good buy and hung up the phone. The problem is that Waste management is the only service in Santa Clarita. They can service or not.

Waste Management agreed to provide my company with an onsite dumpster. After a few short months of service, we were notified that the dumpster would be removed due to a blindspot that the driver contended with while exiting. Waste Management removed the dumpster and issued two regular trash cans followed by an increased rate. After realizing that "totes" were just standard trash cans our office realized that we could never function with such service furthermore what was the upcharge for? We told the company that competitors would in fact issue us a dumpster and the reply we received was that our company has to pay a $600.00 early termination fee? We don't have the dumpster that we agreed to and we don't agreed to the upcharge but yet Waste Management has turned us over to collections. This company has violated its own agreement and wants to hurt my business.

This is the worst company I have ever dealt with. They fail to pick up garbage at times, send me bills when I do not owe them money, suspend recycling collection without notifying us, and NEVER return phone calls! Our bills continue to go up every year, whether the price of fuel goes down or not. I have spent SO much time on the phone with them, and very seldom get a resolution. The have a monopoly in our area, so they can pretty much do whatever they want and get away with it.

I worked for Waste Management for over 3 years. When you get hired they promise you the world but after you are belittled, abused, and treated like you are five years old everyday you go to work. I gave this company 110% everyday but the micromanaging is unbelievable. They expect you to break the law with your hours and work your vacation. Then treat you like crap for it.If your under the desk you get treated better. You don't have the same rules as everyone else. I would Not tell anyone to work for these people. It is not a place. They are always looking for a reason to fire you. Even doing things to you so they can say you made a mistake. The worst place I ever worked.

Company refused to pick up yard waste that was small pieces of dead sod that contained very little dirt. The weight limitation per bag was maintained per instructions. The customer service person had no answer except that he said it was not considered yard waste. When asked what it was he had no answer. I asked for a supervisor and he said they were all busy. I received no call back from the supervisor.

We have been using waste management for our home/small business for several years and watched the service go downhill and the tricks go up. One that hasn't been pointed out here is their constant schedule change.
So we are to have our dumpster picked up the first thursday of a full calendar week of the month. Three months goes by and that pick up gets pushed to the second friday of the second week of the month. Three months later the fourth monday of the month, and three months later the first friday of a full calendar week of the month. Now that would seem they are just busy and need to rearrange their driver's schedule a little, but the schedule is never moved back always forward and four times in a 12 month year means they have just shorted you a full month and your dumpster is overflowing with an extra weeks of garbage, which they charge you for a double pick up.
Another wm scam? I think so.

I agree with... Waste management is to worst company anybody can ever have services with. I originally began my first experience with and I had pickup and billing problems with them from day one. They have missed pickup days, they have picked up however, they left trash all around the trash can that fell out while they were dumping. Worst of all problems with waste management is the billing. I left waste management and went to a company called louie's waste. I was happy with louie's, they had excellent services and billing. But louie's ended up selling out to waste management and I was once again back to the poor excuse for a company. I was so pissed to find this out. This company charges you $35 as a late fee and another $35 to resume services if you are discontinued. There fees are equivalent to 3 months of service. That # don't make any sense. I have obtained services elsewhere with another company and hopefully this new company will provide better services all around.
Best regards cory turner

I have my Waste Management bill automatically taken out by the company every month. The bill is typically in the $40's per month. This month, I noticed the bill charge for over $65. When I called the customer service person said that their driver noticed that my trash bin was 35gal bin, rather than, 20gal bin. How in the world would I know this. Plus, since the original time when I signed up for the service, the bin never changed (as the bin was delivered by Waste Management, the first time). I told the rep that I was never told this and that there was an additional $4.70 extra charge for extra trash that I've never left. I told the rep that my trash bin lid is always closed so there is definitely no overflow. I can have my neighbors confirm this. She says that she can only refund 50% of the bill! Even though, they've never contacted me to confirm the inaccurate information given by their driver. I see a scam with this company for sure and I'd like to use another waste company, if possible.

Prior to moving to my new residence, I contacted waste management and set up trash collection services. I gave my debit card and paid in advance. I moved it and had a lot of trash that I needed them to pick up. They never showed. I spent a week listening to every excuse in the book about how they set it up at the wrong address, would be right out and never showed. I finally asked for a refund and was told they planned to mail a check. After 30 days I called again and was told they planned to reverse the charge. I still have not received a refund. I noticed the name on several of my neighbors bins and called. The competitor came right out and fixed my problems. Don't use waste management in palm harbor. Their phone personnel are inexperienced and unprofessional. A joke!

I had a giant dumpster delivered to my home for yard debris removal. Waste management requires $650 deposit from which to deduct the charges for their service and refund the rest. They are holding my refund for 1 whole month! This is morally wrong, it seems to me that they could process a refund quicker than that. Are they collecting interest on my money that is sitting in their bank account?

Waste management (wm) charged me for $20 (resume service fee) and 0.96 due to my late payment for the last cycle. Even though, there is no service interrupted nor discontinue service notice was mailed to me. I called the company try to get this charge reverse and they refused. They said once the payment is late and they need to charge the customer this fee.! I also requested wm to mail me copy of the contracts (between waste management and city of arcadia, ca) where it shows they can charge such fee and they obviously do not have. If you look the invoice of waste management, a lot of fine prints on their invoice to cover their bad behavior. Why my city has contracted our refusal services to waste management, is a big question. I am filing a complaint as well as calling my city to resolve their irrational charges too.

Basically the worst.
I could write paragraphs detailing the many phone calls and emails and discussions i've had with waste management northwest employees regarding failed garbage and recycling pickups.
Suffice to say, they have their heads up their behinds.
Never have I experienced such bad attitudes and unprofessional, blame shifting behavior from a business. Usually, if you have a problem with a low level employee and ask to speak to their manager you can eventually find a supervisor who understands the basic tenants of customer service. Not so with waste management. They uniformly fail to provide even minimal customer service. There is no way to follow up with the same person, the only way to contact them is by their 1800 number.

At one point (about a year into this problem), they suggested that the problem with pickup was that my cans are beyond 3 feet from the curb. There actually is no curb or sidewalks in my neighborhood - the cans are about 8 feet from the street. Hoping to be able to stop "problems solving" with this company, I agreed to pay an additional fee because the cans are beyond 3 feet. I still receive notices from the company that my cans can't be picked up because they are beyond 3 feet. Repeat: I pay them a fee to pick up beyond three feet... They continue to use "beyond 3 feet" as a reason why it wasn't picked up.

I'm basically in shock that this company exists. I assume they will be going out of business soon.

I was late paying my bill. Yes, my bad. I, unfortunately, didn't have enough in my account to pay the waste management bill the same time I paid my mortgage, water, electric and didn't even have enough to buy groceries. I lived on ramen noodles for the next 2 weeks before my next payday. I understood that they have to harass me by phone twice daily when my bill came due and I understood that they refused to collect my garbage the week my bill came due. But what I don't understand is why after I paid my bill, they still refused to collect my garbage 2 consecutive weeks. They took my money but didn't have the decency to provide me the service for which I paid for. Now I am left with no recourse but to file a complaint with the better business bureau and consumer protection services. I wish the local government will pay heed to the people's complaint and re-think about using the services of this company again. It was going well when garbage collection was serviced by a local company and not by the # waste management company from out of state.

Do not use this company!
I wish I had read all the horrible reviews online before I signed up because they are all true. Our rates have doubled in a year and a half because they kept raising the basic rate, plus adding in all kinds of “fees.” and their excuses about their costs going up are bogus. I called 3 other companies in my area and they will all provide the same service at half of what waste management is charging. Then when I tried to cancel my contract, I got hit with a 6 month cancellation fee plus other charges – over $1200! Their fees are exorbitant, their customer service is awful (don’t return phone calls, make no attempts to resolve the problems), and their one-sided service contracts allow them to raise their fees to whatever they want and you are legally bound to pay it! Stay away from them.