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Comptroller says one-day trash pickup performance has fallen; city plans RFP for new contract
Summary
City staff reported lower route completion rates since the July 21 switch to one-day trash pickup and said fines have been applied; staff said they will issue a request for proposals for solid-waste collection within about 30 days.
During the Sept. 9 meeting, city staff reported that route completion rates fell after the waste-hauler switched to a one-day pickup schedule July 21, and council members were told staff plans to solicit competing bids for the next contract.
Scott, the city's comptroller, said the switch to a one-day pickup produced worse results for completed route weeks compared with the previous three-day schedule. "I'd say worse," Scott said when asked to compare performance. He added that fines under the contract had been initiated for weeks when routes were not completed.
Scott said the city had seen roughly two successful completions since the change and estimated the hauler completed about "2 out of 6" weeks since the transition. He told the council the hauler had likely previously been performing at about 75% completion when on a three-day schedule and that the firm had addressed equipment and personnel issues.
On next steps, Scott told the council, "We'll be placing a request for proposals out in the next 30 days, likely." He said staff aimed to attract some competition in a consolidating waste industry while avoiding an unworkable, overprescriptive solicitation.
Council members asked whether the lower completion rate would trigger contractual conversations, and Scott said fines had already been assessed under the contract's enforcement clause. Staff did not present a formal recommendation at the meeting but described planned procurement steps and other oversight measures.
Background: the comptroller said the one-day schedule began July 21 and that staff had seen equipment replacements and personnel changes at the hauling firm; the firm's market was described as concentrated, with consolidations such as the emergence of Green for Life (GFL) following national industry mergers.
No formal motion to terminate or reprocure the contract was made at the meeting; staff indicated an RFP will be issued to solicit proposals for future service.
