Bayonne council renews A&L Disposal solid-waste and recycling contracts after debate over missed pickups and rebidding

The Bayonne City Municipal Council voted Jan. 2 to exercise one-year options to extend two contracts with A&L Disposal LLC: an additional $1,969,855 for solid-waste collection under agreement CY201071 (bringing the total to $8,128,850.50) and an additional $1,374,348 for recycling collection under agreement CY21070 (bringing the total to $5,584,566).

The renewals drew extended public comment and council discussion about service reliability and procurement practices. The most vocal critic urged the council to seek competitive bids for a set of services that together total millions of dollars; administration and A&L representatives said market conditions and prior bid results supported the extensions.

Sharon Nedrowski, a Bayonne resident, told the council she was "not understanding why we didn't go out to bid" for an $8 million contract and said her ward experienced missed recycling pickups over the holidays, leaving alleys littered with cardboard and bottles. She asked whether the city tracks reimbursements or fines when the contractor misses scheduled pickups and questioned inconsistencies in contract paperwork that listed A&L as a subcontractor for payroll certification.

Director Kotter responded that holiday schedules and closed disposal facilities constrained operations: when transfer stations are closed trucks have nowhere to dump and the city deployed municipal crews to remove urgent accumulations rather than leave trash on streets for multiple days. "Rather than it lay out there for a week, I made the decision that I'd rather us pick up the garbage and do without recycling," Kotter said, explaining the city's choice after Christmas and New Year closures.

Chris Patel, attorney for A&L Disposal, defended the contractor and described the company's 2020 bid win after the prior provider stopped collecting for two weeks. Patel presented bid-comparison figures from the 2020 procurement, saying A&L's combined bids were substantially lower than the prior contractor's and arguing that the company had saved the city millions when awarded the earlier contract. Patel also explained that payroll and employee leasing arrangements explain a checked subcontractor box on some paperwork.

Council members pressed both administration and counsel about whether allegations raised before the meeting suggested any illegality; the city's legal counsel said outside counsel had been consulted and that the concerns were adequately addressed. The administration said the original contract awarded in 2021 included two one-year option periods at $100,000 each and that the current extensions reflect that provision. Several council members said they relied on administration and legal advice but noted the council's intent to advertise for new proposals early in the year to test market rates.

Councilman Booker said he bases decisions on information provided and not personal familiarity with contractors. The council voted unanimously to adopt both resolutions: the roll call on R5 (solid waste) and R6 (recycling) recorded ayes from Councilman Booker, Councilman Carroll, Councilman Perez, Miss Weimer and Councilman LaPalouse.

The council also adopted R7, authorizing the purchasing agent to advertise for bids for future solid-waste and recycling services, and members said they expect a formal procurement process in early 2025 to establish longer-term arrangements once market data are available.