Milwaukie councilors discuss ending rolling 10‑year solid waste franchise, commission fall public hearing

Milwaukie officials and private haulers discussed the city’s solid‑waste franchise framework and rate drivers during the Feb. 18 work session, focusing on the city’s rolling 10‑year franchise term, the cost of food‑waste composting and bulky‑waste collection, drop‑box recycling recovery rates and customer service channels.

The discussion matters because the city’s franchise language — adopted as part of the 2015 solid‑waste code — automatically renews for an additional 10‑year term each January unless the city gives notice at least 30 days before Jan. 1 to begin termination proceedings. That structure, several councilors said, would lock in the current franchise holders for another decade if the council does not act now to start termination proceedings.

Finance Director Michael Osborne briefed the council on the code and recent regional comparisons. “So we went through and reviewed our solid waste rates for FY '25,” Osborne said, summarizing past consultant work and a regional October summit that included Metro and area haulers. He asked the council what additional analysis or actions staff should pursue in the FY26 rate‑setting process.

Councilors and the city attorney clarified how the code works. The city attorney said the code’s rolling feature means that if the city gives formal notice to terminate the franchise system, the existing franchise holders would…