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Balch Springs amends Frontier Waste contract to zone bulk pickups, cap bulk at 8 yards and strengthen apartment enforcement
Summary
The Balch Springs City Council approved on July 28 an amendment to its trash contract with Frontier Waste to move bulk collection to zoned monthly pickups, limit bulk to 8 cubic yards, and impose stronger enforcement for overloaded apartment enclosures.
The Balch Springs City Council on July 28 approved an amendment to the city’s trash service contract with Frontier Waste covering fiscal years 2025–2028. The amendment, presented by Greg, Frontier’s area vice president, changes collection operations to reduce recurring bulk accumulation and to hold property owners more accountable for overloaded enclosures.
Key elements of the amendment presented and approved by council include:
- Zoned monthly bulk collection: the city will be split into four bulk zones; each zone will receive bulk pickup on one designated week per month instead of the city‑wide weekly bulk schedule. Frontier said the zone map and a web lookup tool will let residents confirm their bulk week.
- Bulk cap of 8 cubic yards: staff and Frontier proposed reducing the weekly bulk allowance to 8 yards and photographing before/after conditions; items exceeding the cap would be noted for enforcement.
- Apartment/enclosure enforcement: Frontier will document overloaded containers with photos and the contractor may assess an overage charge (presentation cited a $50 example) to encourage proper service levels or contracted increases by property managers.
- Recycling contamination and second cart option: to reduce contamination fines at the recycling facility, Frontier proposed offering a second cart as a trash cart for residents who do not want to recycle, and an app with guidance on what is and is not recyclable.
- No rate increase this contract year: Frontier told council it was not requesting a customer rate increase this year and offered to invest in equipment, including automated trucks (Greg cited a typical automated truck cost near $493,000) to improve service and reduce unsafe manual handling.
Council discussion touched on parked bins blocking streets, the needs of elderly residents who may have difficulty placing carts, and apartment move‑out volumes that can temporarily increase debris. Multiple council members supported the amendment as a means to improve cleanliness and accountability. The recorded vote was unanimous in favor.
The motion to amend the contract passed on a unanimous roll call. Staff will work with Frontier on zone maps, public notification, and coordination with code enforcement.
