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LAFCO votes to issue expedited RFP for Bay Area refuse collection study; members raise barging and port options
Summary
LAFCO authorized staff to issue an expedited RFP evaluating refuse collection, hauling, transfer and disposal across Greater Bay Area jurisdictions and JPAs and granted authority to enter into a short contract subject to chair ratification; commissioners and public speakers urged a broad scope including barging, transfer mapping and port coordination amid questions about the Recology contract.
The San Francisco Local Agency Formation Commission voted on Feb. 28 to issue an expedited request for proposals (RFP) to study refuse collection, hauling and disposal practices in the Greater Bay Area and to authorize the executive officer to enter into a contract with the selected consultant subject to the chair’s approval and commission ratification.
Chair David Campos introduced the study, which LAFCO staff said would survey selected regional joint powers authorities and cities to document procurement procedures, franchise fees, transfer and transport practices, and options for disposal. Nancy Miller (interim executive officer) said the RFP’s scope (detailed in the packet) would provide a brief analysis of each selected jurisdiction’s selection procedures, a comparison with San Francisco’s practices, and an assessment of franchise fees where applicable.
Commissioners and staff discussed expanding the scope to include barging and port‑based options. Commissioner John Avalos and Commissioner Rick Remurini (Mercurini) asked for maps of regional landfills and consideration of barging or rail as alternatives to long‑haul truck transport. Staff said the time frame is short and a barging review might be cursory but confirmed the port and Department of the Environment would be engaged to provide input; they agreed to exclude ocean dumping from the barging inquiry and focus on barging to landfill facilities.
Public commenters — including representatives from advocacy groups, solid‑waste JPAs and businesses — urged a broad study (not a scaled‑back version) that examines competitive bidding, transfer and processing options, barging and rail, and alternative governance models. Several speakers recommended the survey include San Mateo (South Bayside Waste Management Authority) and larger cities such as San Jose for apples‑to‑apples comparison.
The commission approved a motion (moved by Commissioner Mercurini, seconded by Commissioner Avalos) to issue the RFP and authorize the executive officer to enter into the contract subject to the chair’s review and ratification at the next meeting. LAFCO staff said the RFP would be publicly issued for about two weeks, with an intent to begin consultant work quickly under the short timetable.
Next steps: LAFCO will issue the RFP, coordinate input from the Port, Department of the Environment and other stakeholders, and return the contract for ratification at the March meeting; staff will include barging and transfer mapping in the survey as time permits.
