Schertz staff recommends Frontier Waste; proposes switching to once‑weekly residential pickup with new carts and higher rates

Schertz staff presented the results of a request‑for‑proposals process for the municipal residential and commercial solid‑waste franchise and recommended Frontier Waste Solutions as the winning vendor. The current contract with Republic Services expires June 30; the recommended contract would start July 1 and run five years with a single five‑year extension option.

Staff told the council the vendors proposed service models that would standardize containers, require newer fleets (no equipment older than four years at contract start), and shift residential billing and customer‑service handling so the vendor handles complaints directly while the city retains oversight reporting. Miss Gonzales (Sarah Gonzales) said the contract will also require the contractor to supply new 96‑gallon trash and recycling carts to residents.

Why it matters: the RFP aimed to equalize service across the city (currently some neighborhoods receive twice‑weekly pickup while others receive once‑weekly service) and to limit the city’s ongoing staff time spent collecting curbside brush. Staff said the current residential charge of $14.46 per month has not increased in seven years and that market forces will raise fees.

Pricing options presented

- Staff recommendation (Option 1): Frontier Waste — once‑weekly garbage pickup, recycling every other week, bulk/brush every other week; proposed monthly residential cost $18.10 (about a 25% increase; roughly $43 annually). Household hazardous direct pickup (curbside) was presented as an optional add‑on at about $1.10 per month.

- Alternative (weekly recycling): a $22.00 monthly flat fee option that provides garbage and recycling both weekly and brush/bulk every other week; staff said that option costs about a 52% increase compared with the current rate and would be the higher‑service choice.

- Other bidder proposals and terms: the packet showed multiple vendor options; one low initial price from an alternate contractor in the RFP would have required a 10‑year contract and scheduled stepped increases in the first three years (staff did not recommend that option).

Operational and transition items

- New carts and routing: all residents would receive new 96‑gallon trash and recycling carts; staff said most existing recycling bins are 18‑gallon and that a 96‑gallon cart can typically carry the equivalent of seven to eight 13‑gallon bags.

- Brush/bulk and curbside chipping: the recommended service includes every‑other‑week bulk/brush hand collection; staff said the vendor model would reduce public‑works staff time that is currently spent on curbside chipping.

- Billing and fees: staff proposed consolidating commercial fee buckets and charging a 10% combined franchise and processing fee; commercial accounts would be evaluated by the vendor for right‑sized containers and frequencies.

Community reaction and communication

Staff presented FlashVote survey results showing the twice‑weekly customers are more sensitive to service changes while once‑weekly customers are sensitive to price. Staff noted that a significant communication campaign would be required to inform residents about timing, cart placement standards, options for residents with physical limitations (door‑to‑truck service continues for qualifying accounts) and HOA issues about visibility/storage of 96‑gallon bins.

Recommendation and next steps

Miss Gonzales recommended Council award the contract to Frontier Waste Solutions under Option 1 (once‑weekly garbage, every‑other‑week recycling, bulk/brush every other week) at $18.10 per month; she said that recommendation scored highest in the RFP committee and came in at the lowest cost. The council will consider the award and related fee‑schedule and solid‑waste ordinance changes at a public hearing on April 1.

Ending

Staff emphasized that whichever option the council selects will require a focused communications rollout and vendor coordination to swap carts, update billing, and train crews. The council will consider the contract award, fee schedule and ordinance changes at the upcoming city council meeting and public hearing.