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New single‑vendor trash bid raises yard‑waste disposal questions as council seeks cost clarity
Summary
Administration said a newly bid single‑vendor trash contract was submitted at roughly $10.0M for collection; councilors flagged a potentially large increase in yard‑waste disposal costs tied to disposal-by‑ton vs. prior truckload billing and asked negotiators to pursue lower disposal terms and show potential savings from cart auditing.
The Committee examined solid‑waste projections and a recently issued collection/disposal bid that administration said was submitted at about $10 million for collection. Budget materials include a larger operating projection for collection and disposal in FY27; staff noted the bid is the vendor-submitted number and negotiations are ongoing. Administration said negotiations and clarifications with the bidder are expected to conclude before the July 1 contract start and that the final contract could come in lower than the initial bid.
Multiple councilors raised a significant increase in yard‑waste disposal line items, noting prior arrangements were paid on a per‑truckload basis and the new bid reflects disposal priced by tonnage, producing a higher apparent cost. Administration said some of that discrepancy may be due to differing data used in the bid and committed to review quantities and negotiate disposal terms, including returning to prior vendors if warranted. Staff also explained that cart replacements are typically paid from separate grant or special funds (state grant and other special revenue) and that a full citywide bin audit and scanning program remains a contract deliverable in the proposed new service specification.
Councilors pressed the administration to seek: (1) clearer yard‑waste pricing terms, (2) a reconciliation of collection tonnages (including shifting school disposals), and (3) an estimate of how much cart‑auditing and enforcement could reduce ongoing trash costs. The administration agreed to bring updated contract negotiation outcomes and tonnage reconciliations to the council before final authorization.
What’s next: contract negotiation team (administration, procurement, corporation counsel and DCM) will meet (staff noted a meeting scheduled for the following day) and report back with final terms prior to July 1; councilors retained authority to reduce the appropriation at final vote if negotiated numbers exceed expectations.
