Natchitoches Parish, LA – June 2, 2025– Waste Connections Bayou Inc., a trusted waste management provider serving Natchitoches Parish for more than 20 years, is responding to the recent letter issued by Parish President John D. Salter regarding the Parish’s proposal to take over garbage hauling and transfer station operations.
President Salter’s message, made public, claims that moving these services in house will “stretch taxpayer money” and “have no effect on the City of Natchitoches.” These statements are incomplete, misleading, and fail to acknowledge the full financial and operational consequences for residents across the Parish and the City.
The Facts About the Contract Termination
Currently, Waste Connections holds two separate contracts with Natchitoches Parish Government (NPG):
1. Hauling Services – Transporting waste from over 30 rural drop-off sites to the Parish-owned transfer station, currently operated by Waste Connections Bayou,Inc..
2. Transfer Station Operations – Managing the transfer station, which consolidates and transports waste to a permitted landfill.
These contracts are active until June 30, 2025. However, the Parish President has announced that NPG will terminate both agreements and take over these operations internally. This shift includes taking over hauling responsibilities and operating the transfer station. On July 1st, the Parish will not have the capacity to handle the current amount of waste, potentially causing residents and businesses to take their trash to higher cost or farther facilities.
What President Salter Isn’t Telling You
While President Salter claims this plan “has no effect on the City of Natchitoches,” this is simply untrue.
Under Waste Connections Bayou Inc’ contract with the City of Natchitoches, if the disposal site changes or if operating costs increase due to changes outside our control, those costs are passed on to the customer. With the Parish eliminating the use of the transfer station, Waste Connections Bayou, Inc. will be forced to haul all city trash to a landfill much farther away – resulting in:
● An estimated $6–$8 monthly increase for residential customers
● Higher commercial rates due to increased transport and disposal costs
● Potential delays in service due to the need for more trucks and personnel
In short: This decision absolutely affects City residents and businesses.
Additionally, the Parish will now absorb all the risk and responsibility of servicing over 30 rural sites—an expensive and logistically challenging task that is not reflected in the “savings” President Salter is advertising
A Message to Residents
We urge residents to:
● Ask tough questions
● Attend council meetings
● Contact your Parish President or Council representatives
The long-term impact of this rushed transition could lead to higher costs, decreased service quality, and unforeseen liabilities for the Parish and the City alike.
Waste Connections Bayou,Inc. has proudly served Natchitoches Parish for over 20 years with a proven record of reliable, cost-effective service. We are committed to transparency, accountability, and working in the best interest of the community.
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