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Graham council approves five-year solid-waste contract, ends curbside recycling
Summary
The Graham City Council authorized a five-year franchise agreement with KC Dumpsters (agenda referenced as Casey Dumpsters) that sets new rates, ends city curbside recycling and includes automatic adjustments tied to CPI, landfill fees and fuel costs; service starts Sept. 1, 2025.
The Graham City Council on May 20 authorized the mayor to sign a five-year agreement with KC Dumpsters to provide curbside solid-waste collection in the city, with an automatic five-year renewal option and an effective start date of Sept. 1, 2025.
The agreement establishes a residential single-cart rate of $21.01 per month and a commercial single-cart rate of $31.46. Customers may request an additional 95-gallon cart for $15 per month. Outside-the-city and lake-lot customers who opt in under the franchise schedule will pay $42.07 per month for a single cart, with $20 for each additional container. The council voted to end the city’s curbside recycling program; residents who wish to recycle may drop materials at the city’s convenience station.
City Manager Eric Garrity summarized the contract and emphasized key terms: “The term of the agreement is 5 years with 1 5 year renewal option.” He also highlighted termination provisions (either party may end the contract with six months’ notice) and said staff will provide customer instructions in July and August before the service changeover.
Council discussion focused on transition logistics, rate triggers and equipment. The contract allows the vendor to apply rate adjustments for: the Consumer Price Index (CPI-U) with at least 60 days’ notice; verified operating-cost increases; landfill-disposal-fee increases (the vendor’s initial landfill is Buffalo Creek Landfill); fuel surcharges tied to diesel price thresholds (no surcharge while diesel is below $3.50 per gallon, and further review if it approaches $5.50); and new or increased governmental fees. The agreement also instructs the service provider to “make every effort to use the lightest possible” collection vehicles to reduce wear on local streets.
Councilmembers raised customer concerns about one-cart households, overflow and how two-cart customers will be affected. Eric Garrity said most single-cart households will see their garbage bill fall roughly $9 per month under the new rate structure, while customers adding a second cart should expect a higher combined charge because they will receive two full garbage carts rather than a separate curbside recycling service.
Motion and outcome: Councilmember Jeff moved to approve the contract; Councilmember Shanna seconded. The motion carried with the ayes recorded and no opposition noted.
Staff directions and next steps: City staff will (1) provide customer instructions during July–August 2025 about container disposition and enrollment, (2) coordinate logistics around the Sept. 1 start, and (3) work to smooth service transitions and communications with residents.
The council packet and staff comments stress that construction-and-demolition debris is not municipal solid waste under the contract and must be handled separately by contractors or dropped at the convenience station if hauled by homeowners.
