Kennewick council debates 10-year Waste Management contract extension; keeps leaf pickup in draft terms

Kennewick City Council on Tuesday reviewed a proposed 10‑year extension of the city’s franchise agreement with Waste Management and gave staff direction to include curbside leaf collection in the final draft to return for council action on Oct. 7.

City solid-waste staff and Waste Management representatives presented the amended and restated contract for solid-waste services, explained the proposed rate schedule and answered council questions about recycling, contamination enforcement, transfer-station gate fees and the franchise’s “free-dump” coupon program.

John Cowling (city staff) introduced Waste Management panelists Tyler McKay and Zach Stavros and city representative Martin Nelson, and said the current contract ends at the end of 2025. “We’re going to do this quick follow-up on the contract extension with WM … and the proposed contract titled the amended and restated contract for solid waste services was part of your packet,” he told the council.

Key contract features presented to council include a 10-year extension, a phased rollout…