Commerce City Council awards refuse collection contract to Republic Services, authorizes staff negotiations

Commerce City Council voted to authorize staff to negotiate and execute a five-year contract for citywide refuse and recycling services with Republic Services, following a staff recommendation and a competitive procurement process.

The move follows a request for proposals that produced four responses. Interim Public Works Director Jenna Hahn summarized the city’s baseline requirements — weekly refuse collection, biweekly single-stream curbside recycling and continuing community collection events — and said those base services were priced in bidders’ submissions. Hahn said the city budgeted $5.2 million for refuse services in 2026 and that additional services would require new funding or resident fees.

The council spent most of its discussion on optional services Republic offered: weekly (instead of biweekly) recycling, two models for curbside composting (a citywide program or subscription model requiring a minimum number of sign-ups) and a fully electrified collection fleet. Mark Petrovich, a Republic Services representative, told council the company already operates electric refuse vehicles in other markets, that current-generation electric collection trucks can meet daily route distances (roughly 90–120 miles), and that Republic is installing charging infrastructure at its yard to support electrification.

City staff presented cost projections for 2026 under different option packages. The base services (weekly trash and biweekly recycling) were the most affordable option. Staff said electrifying the fleet as proposed by Republic would increase the annual program cost by about $1.32 million based on projected 2026 unit counts, while Republic later offered a best-and-final package that reduced some of those add-ons and put a combined electric option on the table at a lower per-home premium.

Council members asked about program design, resident charges and implementation timing. Several members said they supported keeping the base services in 2026 while pursuing electrification and community education on composting. City Manager Jason Rogers and City Attorney Zarzecke confirmed the council’s authorization would allow staff to include electrification options during final contract negotiations; staff also noted the best-and-final offer Republic mentioned during the meeting was submitted outside the formal scoring process and would need to be incorporated through negotiation to remain fair to the procurement process.

Council member Ford moved to adopt the staff recommendation and authorize negotiation with Republic Services; the motion was seconded and the resolution authorizing award of the contract passed unanimously with eight yes votes and one excused absence.

Council and staff said they will bring contract terms back for finalization and will identify funding or program design choices before services begin on Jan. 1, 2026.