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Terms of Service

Below is a plain-language summary and the full legal terms.

Terms of Service — Plain language summary

Summary of DI Garbologist Terms of Service

1. Services Provided

By signing up for service, you give DI Garbologist ("the Contractor") the exclusive right to collect and dispose of your trash. In return, DI Garbologist will provide the equipment and services listed in your agreement.

2. Charges and Payments

You pay for service every quarter (every 3 months), based on the pricing included with your agreement. Invoices must be paid by the due date. If you pay late, late fees or interest may be added as allowed by law. If payment isn't made, DI Garbologist may stop service, collect past-due amounts, retrieve its equipment, and charge the contract-specified cancellation fee.

3. Rate Adjustments

Service prices may go up if DI Garbologist's costs increase—for example due to higher disposal fees, fuel costs, government regulations, taxes, or CPI inflation.

Prices can also increase for other reasons if you agree (including by continuing to use the service).

4. Changes to Service

Changes to your equipment, pickup frequency, or pricing can be agreed upon verbally, in writing, or through your ongoing use of the service.

5. What You Can and Cannot Throw Away

Your trash must be normal household waste.

You may NOT place hazardous, toxic, flammable, medical, explosive, or otherwise prohibited items into DI Garbologist's equipment.

You also cannot place:

  • Construction, roofing, or remodeling debris
  • Bulk items unless pre-approved
  • Hazardous waste of any kind
  • Liquids
  • Appliances containing refrigerants

DI Garbologist only takes ownership of the trash once it is loaded into their equipment. If you dispose of prohibited/hazardous items, you remain legally responsible and must cover any damages, fines, or cleanup costs.

6. Driveways and Access

You are responsible for ensuring that DI Garbologist's trucks can safely access your bin or container. DI Garbologist is not responsible for damage to driveways, pavement, landscaping, or surfaces that cannot withstand the weight of service vehicles.

You must provide:

  • A solid surface (such as concrete or plywood) for equipment
  • Snow and ice removal
  • Any needed wildlife deterrence

Extra fees may apply if service is delayed because access is blocked or unsafe.

7. Equipment Rules

All bins and equipment belong to DI Garbologist. While the equipment is on your property, you are responsible for keeping it safe from damage (normal wear excluded). You may not overload, move, or misuse the equipment. If DI Garbologist cannot access your equipment on pickup day, extra fees may apply.

8. Overweight Loads

If your trash is too heavy and results in fines or damage, you are responsible for the extra costs.

9. Cancellation Fees (Liquidated Damages)

If you cancel before your contract ends or otherwise default, you must pay:

  • Any overdue payments
  • A cancellation fee equal to 30% of your monthly rate multiplied by the number of months left, and
  • Reasonable attorney's fees, if applicable

This is meant to cover DI Garbologist's lost costs, not to penalize you.

10. Attorney Fees

If either party breaches the agreement, the party at fault must pay the other's reasonable costs and attorney's fees.

11. Right to Compete

If your contract ends and you receive a competing offer from another waste service, you must notify DI Garbologist and give them a chance to match or respond to the offer.

12. Moving or New Owners

If you move within DI Garbologist's service area, the contract continues.

The agreement also applies to future owners or successors of either party.

13. Notices

Notices may be sent by email, mail, or delivered in person, and are valid once received.

14. Force Majeure (Uncontrollable Events)

Neither you nor DI Garbologist is responsible for service interruptions caused by extreme weather, natural disasters, strikes, government actions, or other events outside reasonable control.

15. Applies to ALL DI Garbologist Services

These Terms apply to:

  • Curbside/valet pickup
  • Customer drop-off service
  • Any service that uses DI Garbologist-branded bags or equipment

Using any DI Garbologist service means you agree to these terms.

DI Garbologist may change these Terms occasionally. By continuing to use our services, after being notified of the changes, you agree to the new Terms.

Terms of Service — Legal

DI Garbologist Terms of Service

1. Services Rendered

The Customer grants DI GARBOLOGIST (the "Contractor") the exclusive right to collect and dispose of all Waste Materials generated by the Customer and agrees to make the payments provided herein. The Contractor agrees to furnish the services and equipment specified in this Agreement.

2. Charges and Payments

Customer shall pay Contractor on a quarterly basis for collection and disposal services (including equipment maintenance charges) in accordance with the schedule of charges attached to or incorporated into this Agreement. Payment shall be made by the date indicated on the invoice.

Contractor may impose, and Customer agrees to pay, late fees and interest on past-due amounts, not to exceed the maximum rate allowed by applicable law.

If any payment is not made when due, Contractor may, at its sole option, terminate this Agreement upon notice, recover all past-due payments, retrieve the equipment from Customer's premises, and assess liquidated damages as described below.

3. Rate Adjustments

Customer agrees that Contractor may increase rates proportionately due to:

  • Increases in disposal facility fees.
  • Increases in fuel or transportation costs, including changes in disposal facility locations.
  • Increases in the Consumer Price Index (CPI).
  • Increases in average weight per container yard.
  • Increases in Contractor's costs due to changes in federal, state, or local statutes, regulations, rules, ordinances, or compliance requirements—including Michigan Part 115 and EGLE rules.
  • Increases in taxes, fees, or other governmental charges assessed on Contractor, excluding income and real property taxes.

Contractor may increase rates for other reasons with Customer consent, which may be verbal, written, or implied by conduct.

4. Service and Equipment Changes

Changes to the schedule of charges, collection frequency, number, capacity, or type of equipment may be agreed to verbally, in writing, or implied through the actions and practices of the parties.

5. Waste Material Requirements

Customer represents and warrants that all materials placed in Contractor's equipment shall be "Waste Material," meaning solid waste generated by Customer. Waste Material excludes radioactive, volatile, highly flammable, explosive, biomedical, infectious, toxic, or hazardous materials.

"Hazardous materials" include any substances defined as such by the U.S. EPA, the State of Michigan, or EGLE pursuant to the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) and applicable state laws.

Contractor acquires title to Waste Material only when loaded into Contractor's equipment. Title and liability for excluded materials remain with Customer. Customer agrees to defend, indemnify, and hold Contractor harmless from all damages, penalties, fines, and liabilities arising from the presence or disposal of excluded materials.

Prohibited:

  • Construction, demolition, roofing, or remodeling debris
  • Bulk items not prearranged
  • Hazardous waste
  • Liquids
  • Appliances containing refrigerants

6. Driveways, Access, and Surface Responsibility

Customer warrants that all access routes, driveways, and surfaces are sufficient to support Contractor's vehicles and equipment. Contractor is not responsible for damage to private pavement, driveways, landscaping, or subsurfaces. Customer assumes liability for such damage.

Customer must provide:

  • A concrete pad or sturdy plywood surface for equipment placement
  • Snow and ice removal sufficient for safe access
  • Wildlife deterrence as needed to ensure equipment accessibility

Contractor may charge additional fees for delays or extra trips caused by blocked access, snow/ice buildup, wildlife interference, or unsafe conditions.

7. Equipment

a) Responsibility

All equipment remains the property of Contractor. Customer has care, custody, and control of the equipment while located on Customer premises and is responsible for loss or damage except normal wear or damage caused by Contractor's handling.

Customer shall not overload, move, alter, or misuse the equipment.

Customer agrees to indemnify and hold Contractor harmless from injuries, claims, fines, damages, or liabilities arising from Customer's use or possession of the equipment.

b) Access

Customer must provide unobstructed access on scheduled collection days. If access is blocked, Contractor will notify Customer and may charge additional fees for extra trips or service attempts.

c) Definition

"Equipment" includes residential wheeled waste bins, stationary compactors, balers, loading devices, tanks, tankers, and any other devices specified in this Agreement.

8. Overweight Loads

Customer is responsible for any fines, charges, or damages caused by overweight loads resulting from Customer's disposal practices.

9. Liquidated Damages

If Customer defaults or attempts to cancel this Agreement before the end of the term, Customer agrees to pay:

  • All past-due amounts, plus
  • Liquidated damages equal to 30% × (last monthly charge) × (months remaining), not as a penalty but as a reasonable estimate of Contractor's damages, plus
  • Attorney's fees incurred in enforcing this Agreement.

10. Attorney's Fees

In the event of a breach by either party, the breaching party shall pay all reasonable attorney's fees, collection fees, and costs incurred by the other party.

11. Right to Compete

Upon expiration or termination, Customer must provide Contractor written notice of any competing offer for non-hazardous waste services and give Contractor a reasonable opportunity to match or respond to that offer.

12. Assignment and Successors

This Agreement is not affected by any change in Customer's service location if the new address is within Contractor's service area. This Agreement binds the parties and their successors and assigns.

13. Notice Requirements

All notices may be delivered by email, mail, or personal delivery and are effective upon receipt.

14. Excused Performance (Force Majeure)

Neither party is liable for delays or failure to perform due to events beyond reasonable control, including strikes, riots, acts of God, severe weather, government orders, or inability to obtain materials or equipment. Such events do not constitute a default.

15. Applicability to All Services

These Terms of Service apply to all waste-handling services provided by the Contractor, including curbside/valet pickup and Customer drop-off services. By utilizing any service offered by the Contractor, including purchasing and using Contractor-issued disposal bags, Customer agrees to be bound by these Terms.

DI Garbologist may update these Terms from time to time. Continued use of service after notice constitutes acceptance of the updated Terms.