The Austin Resource Recovery Commission voted unanimously to approve a residential dumpster collection services contract with Texas Disposable Systems, authorizing a total contract amount not to exceed $2,500,000.

The contract covers collection, transportation, maintenance, cleanup and adjustment of dumpster sizes for multiunit residential customers and is structured as a three-year agreement with two 12-month renewal options, which staff said makes the full potential length five years.

Lionel Benford, division manager for collection services for Austin Resource Recovery, told commissioners, “Austin Resource Recovery is requesting a favorable recommendation for a residential dumpster collection service contract with a total contract amount not to exceed 2,500,000.0.” He said the contract supports continued and expanded residential dumpster collection services and would include collection, transport, maintenance and dumpster-size adjustments as needed.

Commissioners asked about how the new contract compares to the prior agreement. Commissioner (unnamed) noted the prior contract had been authorized at $2,100,000 but actual spend was about $1,100,000 and asked why the new authorization was larger. Benford and Ron Romero, assistant director with Austin Resource Recovery, responded that market pricing has increased and that the department anticipates the number of dumpsters could change; Romero added the department expects to monitor actual spend and offered to return with updates six months and a year into the contract.

Commissioner Dion moved approval and Commissioner Michael seconded. The motion carried unanimously; the commission recorded seven affirmative votes and no dissenting votes.

Staff said the contract is a renewal with Texas Disposable Systems and that one prior bidder had problems during procurement such that TDS was the next qualified vendor. Romero said staff will provide periodic updates on actual spend and contract utilization.

The commission asked staff to report back on contract performance; staff committed to follow-up reporting to show whether actual expenditures track the authorization.

The commission approved the contract and directed staff to monitor spending and return with updates.

Additional clarifying details from the public record: the prior contract authorization was listed at $2,100,000 and in practice the city’s spend under that authorization was about $1,100,000; the new authorization is $2,500,000 to account for market increases and possible changes in dumpster counts.