County staff recommends re-bidding solid-waste contract after comparing costs and service models

County staff briefed commissioners on the county’s upcoming solid‑waste contract renewal and recommended issuing a new request‑for‑proposals that reflects Columbia County’s unique operational profile.

The county’s current contractor operates under an exclusive residential curbside model that staff and the vendor said produces lower per-household rates in Columbia County than many larger, less-dense jurisdictions. County staff reviewed operational differences — trucks-per-route, distance to regional landfills, load/unload time and whether yard waste and white goods are combined — and said those differences explain why like-for-like comparisons to Jacksonville or other urban counties produce higher apparent rates.

Staff recommended a new RFP that documents Columbia County’s operations (single-truck routing in many areas, local landfill acceptance of yard waste, average haul distances) so potential bidders can price services on an apples-to-apples basis. Commissioners asked staff to provide the board with last-bid prices, the previous RFP and the vendor presentation slides; staff agreed to assemble a package and return with a recommended procurement plan.

No procurement decision was made at the meeting; commissioners asked for more documentation before deciding whether to negotiate with the incumbent or go back out to bid. The county also agreed to circulate presentations from the vendor and staff for review.