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Oak Ridge extends Waste Connections contract, adds glass drop-off and orders noise review after resident complaints
Summary
Council approved an amendment and extension to the city's contract with Waste Connections that adds recycling services at fire stations, a glass recycling container at the convenience center, and semiannual rate adjustments; council also directed the city manager to meet with the company about noise complaints after residents raised early-morning disturbance concerns.
Oak Ridge — The City Council approved a resolution amending and extending the city's contract with Waste Connections to add several service changes and to allow staff to work with the company to address resident noise complaints.
The amendments include recycling services for fire stations 1, 2 and 4, haul charges for a glass-recycling container at the convenience center on Oak Ridge Turnpike, an increase in the frequency of household-count rate adjustments from annual to semiannual, and a simplified calculation for residential customer counts. Staff said the developer-driven growth of households prompted the change from annual to semiannual adjustments.
City staff described resident complaints about early-morning noise near the convenience center and other locations. A staff representative said the company’s local manager and regional director have offered to meet and that the resolution includes language directing the city manager to enter discussions with Waste Connections to "address some recent noise complaints and amend the contract as appropriate to alleviate the noise complaints," including operational hours and convenience-center practices.
Council debated the length of the contract and operational concerns. Council member Hope registered a formal no vote based on concerns about a long-term commitment; the resolution passed 6–1. Council members and staff said Waste Connections has agreed to work on operational changes (for example, staging roll-offs and preloading trucks) and to attend future briefings or work sessions if requested.
What’s next: Staff will meet with Waste Connections' local and regional managers and return to council with potential contractual amendments or operational plans to reduce early-morning noise complaints.
