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Council committee weighs reopening garbage contract or negotiating extension after incumbent warns of 25'20% higher bids
Summary
Town staff told the Finance Committee that Carolina Waste suggested incumbent bids would be 25% to 30% higher than current rates and recommended negotiating an extension rather than proceeding to an October RFP.
Town staff told the Finance Committee that Carolina Waste, the incumbent trash hauler, indicated it expects to bid on any new contract but would likely propose rates 25% to 30% higher than current charges, and staff recommended attempting to negotiate an extension instead of opening the contract to competitive bids.
At a budget retreat in April the council voted to open the garbage-collection contract to bids in October. Staff recounted recent talks with Austin Moore of Carolina Waste and said the town's contract does not expire until next September, creating a six-to-seven-month lead time if the council wants to change providers. Staff said Moore acknowledged the town's desire to go to bid but warned that even as the incumbent Carolina Waste would likely bid 25% to 30% higher than current rates.
With that information, staff presented a preference to attempt to renegotiate an extension with Carolina Waste at a lower rate than expected competitive bids. "Our preference ' would be to not bid the contract out and instead negotiate with Carolina Waste on an extension of their contract," the staff presentation said. Committee members responded that changing contractors is disruptive (new carts, public outreach) and that a 25% to 30% increase would be a substantial burden on residents.
Committee members cited neighboring jurisdictions' rates for context (Goose Creek ~ $185 per year in-house; North Charleston ~ $150), and noted the town currently pays $176 (per year) as the municipal payment. Several members said service has improved recently and that renegotiation is reasonable as a first step; others asked that the council place the matter on the full council agenda for Thursday to allow a council decision.
Next steps: The committee agreed to put the matter on the council meeting agenda so members can act on whether to authorize negotiations with Carolina Waste or to proceed with the planned October procurement.
Details: Staff emphasized that a new contractor change would require operational transition work (new carts and outreach) and that a large rate increase would be passed to residents. Staff also noted prior historic spikes in contracted rates tied to fuel adjustments and that the town will collect more comparative quotes before final action.
