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Commission awards five-year residential waste and recycling contract; commissioners press for performance safeguards
Summary
Augusta commissioners voted to award the RFP for residential waste and recycling collection to Coastal Waste Recycling, approving a roughly $19 million hauling and disposal contract over five years with monitoring, performance clauses and a 5-year renewal option.
The Augusta Richmond County Commission on June 3 approved awarding the residential waste and recycling collection contract to Coastal Waste Recycling, effective Aug. 1, 2025, after commissioners sought clarity on cost, recycling options and performance protections.
A department representative, identified in the record as Dr. Malik, told the commission the net hauling and disposal cost under the recommended contract is approximately $19 million across the five-year base term. The contract includes a five-year base term with one five-year renewal option.
Commissioners asked how recycling would be handled. Dr. Malik said the evaluation committee recommended “option 2,” meaning recycling service is provided by the waste hauler. The proposal listed different service-frequency unit rates for recycling; the department provided monthly-unit pricing during the discussion but the transcript showed inconsistent rate lines (the record presented multiple unit-rate figures for monthly, biweekly and weekly service). Because the numbers were discussed on the record with minor inconsistencies, the department said it would provide detailed, written pricing and implementation plans to the commission prior to contract execution.
Commissioner Jordan Johnson pressed staff and procurement officials about whether Coastal and the other bidders could cover a system the size of Augusta and whether penalties exist if the contractor fails to perform. Dr. Malik said the evaluation committee required an implementation plan and asked bidders to update it before award; the department will monitor performance and the contract includes “control measures” and fines for nonperformance. Dr. Malik said the administration could terminate the contract for failure to perform before the five-year term ends.
On enforcement measures, the department said there are liquidated-damage provisions and financial remedies for missed service, but an exact dollar figure was not read into the minutes; Dr. Malik recalled prior enforcement activity and suggested fines had been significant in the past. The contract administrator will be the program manager in Environmental Services, the department accountable for day-to-day monitoring and enforcement.
Commissioner Brandon Garrett moved to approve the award, citing safeguards in the procurement process and the evaluation committee’s recommendation; the motion was seconded by Mayor Pro Tempore Wayne Guilfoyle. The clerk recorded the motion as adopted unanimously by the members present.
The commission and department leaders said they will monitor the transition closely, require an implementation plan from the contractor within the transition period, and report on service performance to the commission.
