Richland County staff to reassign about 5,000 solid-waste customers and to negotiate landfill pricing ahead of 2025 contract deadline

Richland County public-works staff told the Administration Finance Committee they plan to reallocate collection routes to address service problems and growth in Collection Area 1 and to negotiate landfill pricing ahead of an approaching contract deadline.

Director Malone said Area 1 has grown substantially and is approaching "19,000 to 20,000 customers," producing significantly more service complaints than other areas. To balance service loads, staff plan "to move about 5,000 customers, to area 5 B, which is served by Johnson Garbage Service," bringing Area 5B from roughly 1,800 customers to more than 6,600. Malone said the change would require coordination and equipment readiness from the incoming contractor and that public notification would be distributed in the month before the shift, which staff targeted on or about Feb. 1.

On landfill operations, Malone told the committee the municipal solid-waste landfill contract with Waste Management is set to expire June 30, 2025. Council previously approved an amendment to the host-community agreement in July 2020 that allows an additional five-year continuation to June 30, 2030. Malone said staff "will be negotiating with, waste management, on the, per ton price, of, municipal solid waste" well before June to ensure the county understands costs if it exercises the extension; he noted landfill costs are covered by a countywide millage.

Committee members asked about timing and public notification; staff confirmed they would communicate schedule and new service days to affected customers ahead of any change and that the Feb. 1 target could shift if the contractor is not ready. No formal contract award or pricing was approved at the meeting; staff reported a negotiation process and timeline.