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Lewiston budget includes higher contract costs for automated collection; public rollout planned for spring 2026
Summary
City staff told council the new automated curbside collection contract increases operating costs in the near term; the contractor will own and maintain bins and the city plans a public education rollout in spring 2026.
Lewiston staff told council that contracted waste-collection services will cost more under a new automated curbside program, and staff outlined plans for a community outreach rollout next spring.
Public Works staff said the waste and recycling division’s operating budget shows a significant increase in contracted services tied to a new automated collection contract. Staff said the contractor (Casella, the low bidder on the procurement) will supply and replace the collection bins and is contractually responsible for bin maintenance and replacement. "The city has no responsibility for the trash containers at all," staff said.
John Kaczynski, Environmental Services Superintendent, described spring cleanup and brush-collection programs as separate from curbside collection. Staff said the education and marketing campaign for the automated system (branded internally as cart-to-curb rollout) will occur in spring 2026; the waste-disposal tab contains a printing allocation for outreach materials.
Staff noted the contract’s cost increases are amortized across the contract term and that trucks and equipment deliveries will phase in over the procurement timeline; the visible service changes and public-education campaign will begin in spring 2026 when equipment and bins are in place.
Ending: Staff said they will present a public-education plan and timeline ahead of the rollout and that households with damaged or missing bins should contact the contractor for replacement under the contract terms.
