FERNDALE - Middlesboro residents have a new garbage pick-up service, as of Dec. 29, 2006, when Waste Connections took over Waste Management, Inc. This announcement was made during the recent monthly meeting of the Bell County Solid Waste Board of Directors.

According to a press release from Worthing Jackman of Waste Connections, in Folsom, California, Waste Management is a subsidiary of Waste Connections. The newly acquired operations in the Southeast are expected to have a total revenue of $22 million.

Waste Management has kept all the local people, while some in the overall operation have been removed or reassigned.

Scott Solid Waste requested a rate increase to take care of their rising costs from the Bell County Solid Waste Board of Directors. A three percent rate increase raises the Board's rate by 15 cents a ton, for disposal. The Board approved the request.