I've been with Lake Area for 18 years. They have always picked up whatever I put out there. I have always paid whatever they charged. Randomly, out of nowhere, they just stopped picking up the cardboard boxes I put out. When I called to ask, the person that answered got all flustered and said that she didn't know why they picked up before then stopped. She told me that I could bring the cardboard and drop it off for free, but I told her it didn't make sense that it was picked up for 18 years then just stopped. Then she got even more frustrated when I told her to just charge me, that I didn't care as long as they picked up. She then further showed her backside and said that they had new rotations and maybe someone was just doing me a "solid" by picking them up before and now they are getting in trouble for it. Whatever.... this place needs some serious customer service retraining. I am paying customer that called in to offer to pay more and got treated like I was 3rd rate citizen putting out too much garbage and putting square cardboard boxes (broken down) outside the round cans that they don't fit inside. I guess it's time to start looking for a better service. I don't mind paying for better service, if I can find it. Otherwise, I will treat them the same way they just treated me. read more

I'm so frustrated with the recycling pickup. I have even started emailing the company now and then to let them know I'm putting it out ahead of time, which I should not have to do because I pay for them to come weekly, but they have only picked up the recycling once since December (it's almost April). I don't put it out often, but I pay full price for them to come every week, and they hardly ever come. I have chronic pain. When they don't pick it up, I have to carry it back to my backyard and then carry it out again and again and again, sometimes for months. I feel like the company is really nice otherwise, but I don't know what to do about the recycling. read more

I have had this company for many years and they have always been super nice and helpful! I recommend them to anyone that asks what company to use. Their drivers and office staff are just absolutely top notch and I have never been disappointed! Their pricing is really great as well. read more

They make you purchase your own trash cans & then don't call you back when they break one. Bad customer service

I really appreciate Lake Area because they are ALWAYS the most reliable waste hauler. They have never failed to pick up my garbage. I highly recommend them! read more

We had Waste Management before switching to Lake Area. Almost half the price and so very nice & easy to work with. We have now had Lake Area for over 20 years and can't say enough good things about this company. We are not related and do not know anyone who works there. Our guys are the best! Thank you Lake Area for being so friendly and doing a great job. (My daughter has them as well & if she forgets to put her cans on the curb they have gone up to the house to get them.) read more

Someone stole my trash can.I called Lake Area and they said they had no cans to give me and i was to put trash put with no can. I had been a 32 year customer. I asked if they had a can I could buy they said we do not have any. I then subscribed to another trash hauler that gsve me a 90 gallon trash can for free and I called Lake Area to close account and pay balance. 3 months later I git a bill from Lake Area.I called and explained I had stopped services because I had no can.They told I did not owe them and told me "Good Riddance ". read more

We sincerely appreciate ALL the staff and waste haulers. They are top notch! They are always friendly, accommodating, and give a friendly wave and a nod when providing fresh water/gatorade during their route. Have been with them for 7 years strong. read more

Horrendous customer service. Find another company. They lost 2 of my payments. Suspended my service for 3 weeks even though I emailed copies of the canceled checks. They wanted another payment to pick up. I contracted with another company so I could get my trash out of my garage. They finally found my payments. I canceled their service in May and they are still calling to tell me my account is over due and suspended. Ugh. Run fast as you can to any other company and you will be better off. read more

We have had Republic (expensive) and Waste Management (frequently forgot to pickup or had billing issues). Lake Area is kind with reasonable rates! read more

Friendly service at a reasonable price. We had republic services before, and the bill was $92. With Lake Area the bill was $51 for the same period. We contacted Republic before to see if they had a better rate, since there are only 2 people in the household on social security, and they wouldn't budge. Take it or leave attitude. So, we left it. read more

I was doing a big clean of 40 years of household un-donate-able junk and there was lots of stuff. I was afraid I wouldn't be able to find a way to dispose of it all. One call to Lake Area and they said - no problem - they would just charge $30 extra for each time they needed to run the compactor on the garbage truck. They came by at a reasonable hour in the morning (9:30am), called to give an estimate and confirm we wanted to proceed, then took everything and even took time to pick up some scraps that had fallen on the ground during the work. Thank you for making everything so easy and doing such a great job! read more

I wouldn't recommend this service for the life of me! I was treated very rudely when calling to ask why my trash wasn't picked up. The garbage man was too lazy to pick up my trash so he told the office my cans weren't out. My cans have never left the spot they have been in since I have had this service. I have had to call monthly because my garbage man won't pick up extra trash that is sat out. When I called them out on their garbage man being a liar they terminated my service. What kind of business are you going to have if u let your employees lie on customers because they don't want to do their job? I started new service with a much friendlier cheaper company so thank you for treating me like the trash you scum pick up. read more

We've used Lake Area for at least 20 years and love their service. The guys that pick up our trash are conscientious and are pretty patient with us if we ever put something out that we shouldn't. They also are great after Christmas if we have extra stuff that won't fit in the trash cans. If we miss getting our cans set out, or are going to be out of town, the office always gets us picked up on another day - no hassle. I wish everyone we pay for services were as good as Lake Area. read more

I've been a customer for 44 years, at four addresses. Nothing but good things to say about Lake Area.

I applaud Lake Area Disposal Services for their OUTSTANDING customer service. I recently opened up an account there and their customer service representative explained everything in great detail. She was so friendly, polite and knowledgeable. Signing up for service was so easy thanks to her. read more

Lake Area is the best in Customer service, in my opinion of all 3 garbage companies in Springfield by far. They are family owned and not a corporation and because of that you get personal service when you call. More flexible, not corporate in nature, but family run. read more

Only locally owned hauler in town. Good old fashioned place with nice people. Commercial and residential accounts and large roll off container delivery available and reliable read more

Prompt, friendly and responsive when necessary. They are the best in town and locally owned. Rates are fair. Good office staff too.

We moved about a year ago and had the choice of 3 different disposal services. We choose Lakes and have had excellent service with this company. Their pick up is consistent and their Customer Service Representatives are outstanding. They explain everything in detail and work with you to get the best price available. read more

This company is great as long as you don't call them about a problem with their service. I have and they are quick to make it the customer's fault in some way. Even if there has been a miscommunication, a little customer service and attempt to convey that their customers do matter would make it better. Perhaps it's easier to blame the customer than put in the extra time and expense to make it right. Instead they are defensive and rude. I do not know who the other reviewers were talking about, I suspect they are either relatives or people who work for the company because from the day we set up service they have acted as if doing business with us is a big inconvenience. Our service has ended with them as the person I spoke to petulantly whined that since "they are a terrible company, I shouldn't do business with them.' Maybe it is time for them to retire from their "many years of service." They are tired and tiresome. read more