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Chester says new trash contract with Cassella (Waste Industries of Delaware) promises big savings and added services
Summary
Mayor and council discussed a new five‑year trash contract with Cassella (doing business as Waste Industries of Delaware) that the city says would lower costs and add recycling and bulk‑pickup services; officials stressed the company will be held to contract terms and that projected savings will avoid a fee increase in 2026.
Chester Mayor Stefan Roots told City Council on Sept. 24 that a new trash contract with Cassella, doing business as Waste Industries of Delaware, is expected to reduce costs and expand services for residents beginning in 2026.
Roots said the city’s current vendor, Mascaro, has a contract that ends Dec. 31, 2025, and that the city put the service out to bid earlier this year. "If they can deliver everything that we're asking for, for $350,000 less than we were already paying they became the lowest most responsible bidder," Roots said during the meeting.
The mayor and other speakers described the key financial and service details the city provided to council: a first‑year contract value of $1,650,000; a reported $350,000 reduction in the city’s costs for the coming year relative to the current price; and an asserted five‑year savings projection the mayor characterized as roughly $10 million if annual differences hold. The new contractor will provide 65‑gallon recycling bins for households, collect recycling on the same day as trash collection, increase weekly bulk pickup from one item to two items, handle leaf collection, and host two annual drop‑off events for recycling and electronic waste, officials said.
Roots cautioned that the new vendor is not yet on the streets and that the city will hold the contractor accountable to contract terms: "They'll be held accountable to the contract. And if they can't deliver, there are some... things in place to make sure that it is delivered," he said.
City staff told council the contract includes a 3% annual escalator so the city can project the cost path over the five‑year period. Roots said, based on the city’s analysis, residents will not face a trash fee increase in 2026 because of the expected savings.
Council members and staff also noted the procurement included multiple executive sessions to review personnel and legal issues related to the bidding process since the last meeting.
Ending: City officials said the new trucks and bins will roll out next year if the vendor meets contract requirements; staff and council indicated they will monitor early performance and enforce contract remedies if service falls short.
