Republic Services delivers annual report to Highland Village Council; contract calls for 4% rate adjustment

Republic Services presented its annual service report to the Highland Village City Council during the Sept. 23 work session, saying the city is entering year three of a five‑year hauling contract and that the contract provides for a 4% annual price increase.

"It's that time of year again. We're coming into year 3 of our 5 year contract with public services," said Jerry Harwell, who led the Republic Services presentation to council. Harwell noted the 4% increase is "by contract" and appears in both the agenda briefing and the presentation.

The presentation reviewed the city's October 2024-through‑August (reporting period) tonnage. Harwell said residential tonnage has been “very consistent,” while industrial and commercial tonnage fluctuate as businesses and construction activity change. She told council that yard‑waste tonnage shows the largest month‑to‑month swings and that trash tonnage generally outweighs recyclables, which affects diversion calculations.

Why it matters: the report provides the council a baseline for service performance and cost changes under the current franchise agreement, and it flagged operational issues the city may want to address in communications with residents and in future contract planning.

Major details from the presentation

Tonnage and diversion — Harwell said the city’s single‑stream recycling and residential tonnage were steady during the reporting window, but yard waste varied by season. She recommended the…