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Lincoln County to issue RFP for solid-waste hauling as contract nears November expiration
Summary
Lincoln County commissioners directed staff to issue an RFP for the countywide solid-waste hauling contract, offering bidders options to propose for North, South or all of Lincoln County. The decision aims to clarify costs, hauling schedules and recycling options ahead of the budget cycle.
Lincoln County commissioners on Feb. 4 directed staff to put the countywide solid-waste hauling contract out to bid, with the request-for-proposal structured to allow bids for North Lincoln County, South Lincoln County, or the entire county.
County solid-waste staff told the board the current service contract expires Nov. 9, 2026, and recommended an open RFP so the county can compare bids and consider consolidation, frequency, recycling services and licensing constraints. "The current hauling contract that we have now expires of November 9th of this year," staff member Kathy said, noting the need to finalize procurement in time for the 2026 budget cycle.
Commissioners discussed practical issues bidders will face, including obtaining a haul license from the state Public Service Commission, whether haulers would offload in Libby or in Eureka, and how the county might compensate additional county transports between those locations. Staff recommended including recycling as an optional contract item rather than a mandatory requirement, given setup costs and limited local processing capacity.
The RFP will list the countyidentified site locations and current pickup schedule and allow bidders to propose alternative consolidation plans. Commissioners asked staff to contact known regional haulers and to post the RFP promptly to give the county time to review responses before budget decisions. The boards direction was to proceed with an RFP offering separate and combined bid options and to return with bid results for selection and budget planning.
The commission also directed staff to document expected cost drivers the RFP should isolate, including fuel-indexed price adjustments, container ownership (green boxes), and any added county transport costs if a northern hauler drops loads in Eureka. The board set an expedited timeline for solicitation and review so results will inform the next fiscal budget.
What happens next: staff will finalize and post the RFP, solicit known regional haulers (including big national carriers and local operators), and return to the commission with bids and a recommended contract approach.
