Day 1: Residential Collection Contract Begins​

Meridian Waste, an integrated, non-hazardous solid waste services company, began residential solid waste and recycling collection services on September 30 for the Town of Callahan. The new service is the company’s first Florida exclusive solid waste franchise. 
 
Meridian Waste is providing once a week garbage collection utilizing a 95-gallon cart, once a week yard waste collection, once a week bulk waste collection (limit two items per collection), and every other week recycling collection starting Thursday, October 10. The Company purchased a new rear load collection vehicle, a knuckle boom truck, and all new garbage and recycling carts to service the Town and its citizens. 
 
Specific guidelines regarding what residents may or may not place curbside for correct solid waste and recycling collection can be found here:  www.MeridianWaste.com/Callahan and can be printed from here: https://www.meridianwaste.com/media/159683/callahan-information-flyer-collection-guidelines.pdf.  Important changes include the elimination of glass from the recycling stream due to it being a common contaminant in single stream recycling processes and the change to every other week collection of recyclables to keep costs low and fewer trucks on the road.
 
Residential Collection Schedule:
            Garbage = Monday
            Bulk Waste = Monday
            Yard Waste = Thursday
            Recycling = Every Other Thursday (starting October 10) 
            Recycling Collection Calendar: CLICK HERE

Commercial collection becomes an open market effective October 1, allowing businesses the opportunity to choose their waste hauler for the first time in more than a decade.  The commercial hauler must hold a Nassau County solid waste permit in order to provide service.  Meridian Waste is one of the approved Nassau County solid waste haulers.

“As a business owner who first started his company in Nassau County just outside of Callahan, I am proud to be able to provide vital environmental services to the residents of Callahan,” said Dave Shepler, district manager of Meridian Waste and the founder of Partner Disposal (acquired by Meridian Waste in 2018).  “The Town of Callahan has been an incredible partner as we transition the service from the incumbent hauler to Meridian Waste.  It is our goal to ensure that this partnership strengthens and thrives through quality service, open communication, and a clean environment for the benefit of the Town, its citizens and Meridian Waste.” 

If Town residents or commercial entities need to reach out to Meridian Waste to request a cart or dumpster, please call 904.849.5122 or email CustomerCareNassauCoFL@MeridianWaste.com.
 
Sign Up for Service Alerts: Stay in the know about your service—sign up for email and/or text alert notifications so we can update you in the event of inclement weather, holidays or other factors that might interrupt your service. Sign up at: www.MeridianWaste.com/Service-Alert-Signup.

Erosion repair work originally scheduled to begin today on County Road 121/Baldwin and Saint George Road between Carroll Corner Road and Turkey Trot Trail has been delayed until further notice due to a CSX railroad crossing repair project on River Road. The project will begin once the railroad crossing work is completed.

Detours will be necessary to repair a bridge culvert damaged from erosion.
The detour will take northbound and southbound drivers on County Road 121 to U.S. 301 via County Road 108 and Henry Smith Road (map below). Electronic message boards will be placed ahead of the closure on County Road 121. Motorists are encouraged to utilize the Florida 511 app to plan ahead.
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CDM Contracting Inc. is projected to complete the $369,000 repair project by late 2019, weather and schedule permitting. 

Meridian Waste, an integrated, non-hazardous solid waste services company, was awarded its first Florida residential solid waste services contract by the Town of Callahan at last night’s Town Council meeting. After a lengthy discussion regarding service options, current service quality and cost-effective options for the citizens, Meridian Waste’s proposal was selected in favor of the incumbent’s proposal. Starting October 1, Meridian Waste will be providing once a week garbage collection utilizing a 95-gallon cart and every other week recycling collection. Yard waste and bulk waste collection services are still under consideration of staff and Council.  The fee for solid waste services will be paid by the Town to Meridian Waste and remain as a line item on residential units’ water bills.  New carts and detailed educational materials will be delivered in September to each home outlining the garbage and recycling guidelines as well as Meridian Waste contact information and the opportunity to sign up for service alerts.   

Commercial collection will become an open market effective October 1 allowing businesses the opportunity to choose their waste hauler for the first time in over a decade.  The commercial hauler must hold a Nassau County solid waste permit in order to provide service.  Meridian Waste is one of the approved Nassau County solid waste haulers.

“At Meridian Waste, garbage service is more than just a competitive price, which we offered to the Town and was accepted,” said Dave Shepler, district manager of Meridian Waste.  “We believe that the most important aspect is the team of environmental professionals who stand with the Company, who interact with your citizens, who keep the trucks running smoothly and on time, and who listen to customers’ needs that make a world of difference in our vital service industry.  Callahan deserves quality service to keep the Town clean and healthy, and that is exactly what Meridian Waste will deliver.” 
 
Shepler and the Meridian Waste team members are veterans of the Callahan and Nassau County market, as they have led the Nassau County operations of both Advanced Disposal and Partner Disposal for many years prior to joining forces with Meridian Waste.

The Town and Company will finalize a contract to be presented at the next Town Council Meeting in July for ratification.