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Crookston staff says switch to Waste Management is reducing costs; council asks for data
Summary
Staff said shifting residential pickup to Waste Management has reduced operating costs and will be reviewed after a stabilization period; council asked for a 6- to 12-month before-and-after analysis of costs and service.
During the Sept. 17 budget workshop, Crookston City staff reviewed the transition of residential garbage and recycling service to Waste Management and the financial impacts on the public-works budget.
Staff explained the city now bills a $6 garbage/refuse collection fee on utility bills and passes much of that revenue to Waste Management under contract. "We're collecting 160 for revenue basically on garbage and we've got the contract at 120. So it's like a 40,000 plus is what they're saying," the public works director said, describing early net savings tied to the change in service model.
Council members asked for clearer metrics and a before-and-after comparison once the program has operated long enough to smooth sign-up churn and cancellations. Staff said Waste Management has agreed to sit down with city leadership next year to revisit the contract when enrollment stabilizes and that the city will track the savings and service levels. Staff also described operational adjustments: the city cut one public-works position related to in-house garbage pickup and reallocated employees to other duties such as brush pickup and street light maintenance.
On recycling, staff said Waste Management now handles recycling and that twice-monthly curbside recycling is a potential service Waste Management could offer under a future renegotiation.
The council asked staff to return with data (costs, headcount, and contracting details) after at least six months of service to substantiate the savings and help guide any renegotiation or adjustments.
