Waste Pro fights to keep position as Buncombe County set to shuffle trash collectors

ASHEVILLE, N.C. (WLOS) — Buncombe County is negotiating with FCC Environmental Services to become the county's new solid waste collection and recycling provider.

On Thursday, Keith Banasiak, the chief operating officer and senior vice president of Waste Pro USA, Buncombe County's current waste collection provider, spoke with News 13 about what could happen to the company's 50-plus employees should FCC secure a contract.

“Those drivers, those helpers, those mechanics -- they’ll be repositioned within our company,” Banasiak said.

Already, around 40% of the Waste Pro staff commute from the Charlotte area to Buncombe County daily.

“It’s hard for a driver or a helper to be able to afford to live close to the area, and we know for a fact because we’re a market setter on rates there. We know we’re paying the most competitive rate possible,” Banasiak said.

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If Buncombe County chooses FCC Environmental Services, Charlotte area employees will stay in the Queen City.

But that still leaves more than half of their current employees.

“We’re going to offer them relocation packages with competitive salaries, benefits and some of them might even have the ability to take a different position and maybe escalate their career within Waste Pro,” Banasiak said.

But the Florida-based waste management service isn't going to give up on the Buncombe County contract.

"We’re prepared to stay," Banasiak said. "We’re prepared to listen to what the county is looking for in the go-forward plan, and we’re prepared to act on it.”

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Waste Pro's pitch is simple.

"Through these past 14 years, we have learned, very well and extensively, how to navigate through Buncombe County,” Banasiak said. “Some of these areas out there, you are challenged in a vehicle, a standard car, an SUV. Take a garbage truck and try to go through some of the terrain that we have to deal with.”

Buncombe County began negotiations with FCC last Wednesday and expects to present a final agreement to county commissioners several weeks from now.

“We’re proud, we’re pleased to say that we’re a partner with Buncombe County, and we want to remain there,” Banasiak said.

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