This stinks: Thousands of Priority Waste customers across Metro Detroit are reporting delayed garbage pickup

ST. CLAIR SHORES (WWJ) -- Thousands of people across Metro Detroit are having problems with their trash pickup. So, what's going on?

WWJ's Charlie Langton said Wednesday that Priority Waste customers in multiple cities are reporting that their garbage hasn't been picked up on time — and has been sitting there as long as a couple of weeks.

"Priority Waste did take over most of the old GFL garbage service as of July 1st," Langton reported. "But many residents have had complaints of delayed service, or missed pickups or just poor customer service."

St. Clair Shores, Chesterfield Township, Northville, White Lake Township, Allen Park, and Clinton Township are among the communities reporting problems — including garbage piling up and trouble with rats.

In a statement, Priority Waste said that it received hundreds of broken or damaged GFL Environmental trucks in the takeover deal. Now they say they're working overtime to fix those trucks and are also working extra hours to get all that garbage picked up.

Priority said it now has about 700,000 residential customers in Metro Detroit, making them to largest trash service in the region.

"And they just say be patient," Langton said. "They know, they understand the problem, and they're going to fix (it); they're going to get that garbage picked up."