Trash pickup headaches across Metro Detroit have now produced a boardroom shakeup. Priority Waste announced today that Aaron Johnson is taking over as chief executive and that private equity firm TPG will assume a controlling stake in the Clinton Township-based hauler. The moves follow months of complaints over missed collections and long customer service waits after Priority inherited dozens of municipal contracts from GFL last year, as local officials publicly demanded fixes and the board removed founder Todd Stamper earlier this year amid an internal review.
New CEO As TPG Steps Into Control
Priority Waste said Johnson will succeed Stamper as CEO and that the leadership change comes alongside a shift that will put TPG in a controlling ownership role, according to reporting by The Detroit News. Company materials describe the shakeup as part of a broader plan to steady residential trash service across Southeast Michigan after a bumpy year on the routes.
Veteran Trash Executive Brought In To Clean Up The Mess
Johnson most recently served as president of the Midwest region at Reworld, following more than two decades at Waste Management, according to his company biography. His profile shows he joined Reworld in 2025 and oversaw regional operations that Priority says will help guide its turnaround effort. Reworld's leadership page outlines his Midwest responsibilities and prior experience.
Townships Turn Up The Heat After Missed Pickups
Township leaders and residents had been pressing Priority for months after the company took over dozens of contracts and a fleet that it said needed repairs. Clinton Township at one point withheld payments, then later agreed to pay more than $1.1 million to settle withheld fees tied to missed pickups, according to ClickOnDetroit. Other communities, including Macomb and Waterford, have publicly said service has improved enough to keep Priority under contract for now, while they continue to monitor performance, according to C&G News.
TPG Takeover Comes With A Big Capital Injection
As part of the ownership shift, Priority has been sending change of control letters to municipal clients asking them to acknowledge that TPG will become the company's majority owner and assuring local officials that Priority will remain the contracting party. A Waterford Township memo that includes the company letter lays out that language in detail, according to Waterford Township documents. Industry profiles and local reporting indicate TPG is expected to provide a sizable capital infusion to buy new trucks and shore up operations, and one business profile put that figure at roughly $150 million. CB Insights and advisory disclosure pages summarize the firm's recapitalization history and overall scale.
Millions Of Customers Will Be Watching The Follow-Through
Priority now serves a large slice of the region, with advisory materials and filings saying the company operates in more than 100 municipalities and serves about 1.1 million customers. How quickly TPG and the new CEO can turn fresh capital into reliable routes will go a long way in deciding whether townships keep those contracts. Stout documented an earlier recapitalization with TPG Angelo Gordon that helped finance Priority's growth. In a company news release cited by The Detroit News, Johnson said, "I am thrilled to lead Priority Waste into its next chapter and help deliver reliable, consistent, and high-quality service." Local trustees say they will keep monitoring performance and may invoke contract provisions if service slips again, according to C&G News.
