New London board directs staff to seek bids for citywide garbage collection without opt-out

At its Jan. 6 meeting, the New London Board of Public Works voted to direct city staff to run a formal competitive bidding process for a citywide garbage-collection contract that would not include an opt-out option for households.

The decision followed a presentation of a city survey and more than an hour of public comment and board discussion about costs, administrative burden and resident choice. The motion, made by Mr. Ritchie and seconded by Mr. Herder, passed 6-4.

The vote came after city staff told the board the survey received 285 responses. “Out of those 285, 91.9 or 92% say they currently pay a contractor to pick up the garbage at the curb,” said Robert Garski, the staff member who presented the survey results to the board. He said 76.1% of respondents said the city should bid for a contract and that 65% opposed an opt-out option.

The survey and a sizable public-comment period were the clearest drivers of the board’s action. Kelly Keever, a New London resident, told the board many neighbors feel their concerns go unheeded and urged leaders to negotiate for residents’ benefit. “They don’t feel anything’s ever gonna change,” Keever said, arguing the city should “stand up for your constituents.”

Board members and staff pressed on logistics and costs. Some members said a citywide contract could deliver lower household rates through competitive bidding; others warned of additional administrative work the city would need to handle. “We will have to look at more manpower,” Garski said, noting the city already fields calls about trash and recycling and that taking on a contract would increase that workload.

Members also discussed contract details the board would need to resolve before a final decision. Topics raised included whether bids would be priced per household, how an opt-out system would affect unit pricing and how the city should estimate the number of households that would participate. Board members noted that Outagamie County’s recycling agreement requires that solid waste collected in New London be taken to the Outagamie County landfill, and that any contract would need to reflect that requirement.

Several board members urged the city to obtain apples-to-apples cost estimates before changing policy. Mr. Ritchie’s motion asked staff to request formal bids from multiple waste haulers and to base those bids on a defined household count so comparisons would be consistent. The board then voted 6-4 to authorize an official bid process without an opt-out clause.

Board members also discussed the local employment impact if the existing hauler lost market share and whether a higher license fee for haulers could offset administrative costs; no formal action was taken on licensing changes.

The board directed staff to return with the bid specifications and cost estimates once received. The next Board of Public Works meeting is scheduled for Feb. 3; staff said they expect to present bid results and cost analyses in a future session.

Votes at a glance: - Motion to pursue a formal competitive bid for citywide garbage collection with no opt-out clause — mover: Mr. Ritchie; seconder: Mr. Herder; outcome: approved, 6-4.