City, county end negotiations with current recycler; launch competitive procurement for MRF services

City of Vancouver staff and county partners told the City Council on April 21 that negotiations with the current recycling services provider, CRC, have ended and that the city and county will pursue a competitive procurement for long-term materials recovery facility (MRF) services.

Julie Gilbertson, the city's solid waste supervisor, and Will Elder, environmental services manager, briefed the council on the status of recyclables processing arrangements. They said the existing MRF was procured in 1988, is aging and constrained by its location at the West Vancouver Transfer Station, and cannot easily accommodate projected regional growth or expanded materials such as organics.

City and county staff said they negotiated in good faith with CRC since February but found that CRC’s proposals exceeded the anticipated 10-year base term, presented financial and operational risks, and lacked fee structures comparable to market rates because there has not been a competitive procurement in more than 37 years. As a result, staff concluded a competitive procurement is the preferred path.

“Each proposal fell short of city and county expectations and staff determined that their proposals were out of alignment with key terms,” the city briefing said. The staff update noted no immediate action was required from council; the existing contract expires on Dec. 31, 2027, and includes a one-year extension option.

Council members asked timing and next steps; staff said the early procurement is appropriate given the contract end date and the need to evaluate new facility locations or existing site improvements. Staff committed to updating the city manager and council as the procurement proceeds.

What’s next: staff will develop and execute a competitive solicitation and return to council with procurement milestones and options for site selection, contract term, and fee structure before the current agreement’s expiration.