County seeks two‑year extension with bag vendor, adopts waste‑reduction policy and plans staffing changes

Solid Waste staff asked the committee for several authorizations: a two‑year extension to the current bag contract with vendor WayZero, adoption of a county waste reduction/recycling policy, and authorization to fill one budgeted part‑time and one budgeted full‑time motor equipment operator position. The committee approved and will forward the resolutions to the full board.

Staff said WayZero proposed an amended agreement with a 5% price adjustment in year one (pennies per bag, staff said) and no increase in year two; staff recommended changing the contract from three one‑year extension options to a single two‑year extension to lock in pricing and reduce exposure to volatile resin costs.

Solid Waste staff also presented a draft waste reduction policy (the environmental purchasing portion was removed after some resistance) intended to keep the county in compliance with the local solid waste management plan. Staff said their scales were recently calibrated and that they plan outreach and education with department heads to support policy implementation.

The committee approved a request to auction eight 20‑yard roll‑off containers that staff said have outlived their useful life; staff plan to reuse three container doors on existing units and auction the remaining containers. Staff also noted that proposed statewide recycling legislation did not pass the assembly this session and that they will return next year with another support letter.

All of these items — the WayZero extension authorization, adoption of the waste reduction/recycling policy, filling of the two budgeted positions and authorization to sell the containers — were moved, seconded and approved by the committee for forwarding to the full board.