Wayne approves six-year refuse contract with Priority Waste, adds curbside recycling

The Wayne City Council voted to award a six-year refuse-services contract to Priority Waste, approving the administration’s recommendation that the company provide household refuse, compost and curbside recycling service under a six-year option one agreement totaling $8,141,139.

City staff told council the Priority proposal would implement curbside recycling (one 96‑gallon recycling cart per household), retain weekly trash with recycling every other week, and is lower in total cost than competitor bids. “Over the six‑year term of the contract, approximately $1.9 million less in overall cost compared to the Stevens proposal,” a staff presenter said during the discussion.

The recommendation followed a months-long procurement process. Staff said Priority will stockpile additional carts and bins and that the contract includes a performance bond; if a vendor abandons service, the city may draw on that bond to secure continuity of pickup. City staff also committed to monitoring service requests and missed stops and to require vendor performance reporting.

Council questions focused on three resident concerns: the difference between the two Priority bidding options (staff said option two included replacement of all cans and would add roughly $1.1 million to the contract), the length of the term (staff described six-year terms as standard in the industry), and remedies if the contractor stops service (staff pointed to the performance bond and contractual enforcement provisions).

Staff said the contract sets fixed pricing as bid and that curbside recycling is expected to reduce disposal tonnage and costs; staff recommended closing the existing recycling drop‑off center if curbside service is implemented, estimating roughly $50,000 annual savings from that closure. Priority told staff it would deliver carts in time to start service near July 1 if council approved.

Council conducted a roll-call vote on the award. The vote recorded: Mayor Prom Brock, Councilman Dow, Councilwoman Was, Councilman Corals, Councilman Darwitch, Councilwoman Lawrence and Mayor Rey — all voting "yes." The motion carried.

Next steps: administration will finalize contract language, confirm the performance-bond and service guarantees, schedule the rollout and public-education program for recycling, and coordinate delivery of new carts.

Quote: “Curbsiderecycling will also be implemented with this proposal,” a city staff member said. “They’re already ordering 6,000 cans for this if council is to approve it.”

The contract approval is expected to change the rubbish fund projections in the final adopted budget and will be reflected in budget amendments and future financial reports.