Ishpeming Trash Changes

With the new year came a major change in the trash collection in one U.P. community.

How are Ishpeming business owners holding up under a recent change that will cost them money?

In December, the Ishpeming City Council changed the garbage contract to no longer include pickup for businesses.

Some business owners told us off camera today that they’re very upset.

For others, it’s inconvenient, but not much more than that.

Wilderness Sports owner Sandee Sundquist says it was a big hassle to negotiate rates with garbage companies, especially during the holidays since that’s the busiest time of year for the store.

But the added expense of the pickup won’t affect prices at the store.

Sundquist and other business owners are trying to get lower rates for each other.

In exchange for stopping commercial pickup, and including trash billing for residential customers in their utility bills, Ishpeming is cutting 2.7 mills from property taxes.