Video lands waste worker in heap of trouble

Employee filmed shovelling snow into truck in Milton

What started as a Milton woman’s innocent Facebook post showing waste collection staff shovelling snow into a garbage truck has led to an investigation of an employee’s unusual actions and his dismissal.

Anna O’Sullivan was looking out her home office window on Potts Terrace, where she noticed something unusual — a waste services employee not only picking up her garbage, but shovelling a large amount of snow into the truck as well.

“I thought maybe it was because the snow was too far out on the street,” said O’Sullivan, who shot a video of the incident and posted it to Facebook praising the man for what seemed like above-and-beyond service.

“The video got a whole bunch of comments, with some saying this was nice, but others saying he did this to make the garbage truck heavy.”

With the region paying Miller Waste Systems for its services by the ton, “the obvious incentive (for the employee) was to add weight to the truck,” said Jim Harnum, Halton commissioner of public works.

“It’s absolutely inappropriate and we’ve taken it very seriously,” he said. “We’ve been working with Miller for many years and never had an incident like this.”

The company confirmed Wednesday morning that the employee has since been fired, but offered no additional details.

“Obviously this is in violation of our company policy and contractual obligation with the region.

“Whatever his motivation was, we will find out as we complete our investigation.”

The commissioner said the region didn’t pay Miller for the loads that arrived at the waste transfer station on the truck in question and is now investigating the vehicle’s history to see if further action is needed.

“We do have supervisors on the road daily checking these trucks, and we have spotters at the transfer station. If a load is soaking wet we would see that immediately,” he said.

If adding snow to garbage trucks was a systemic problem, Harnum estimated it could add 1 per cent to the waste tonnage being hauled locally.

He added, “We have a really good relationship with Miller. They are a very open, honest contractor. We think this was just a rogue employee who took it upon himself to try to help the bottom line of this company.”

The region will be assessing a fine to the contractor based on the results of its investigation, Harnum said.

Goulet said the company met with its drivers on Tuesday to reinforce that only approved materials are to be deposited in trucks. Each employee was also given a letter addressing the inappropriate behaviour.

The Region has contracted Miller Waste Systems since 2008 for waste collection services at a cost of about $13 million a year.

The municipality recently went through a competitive process for a new waste collection contract that starts next month, with Miller once again being chosen for the service.