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Council authorizes interim landfill agreement with Waste Management and directs RFP for local transfer station
Summary
Fremont approved a short-term agreement with Waste Management starting July 1 that lowers first-year tipping fees to $38/ton and gives staff time to issue an RFP for a long-term local waste transfer solution; council directed staff on procurement tracks and approved the contract 8-0.
The Fremont City Council on June 9 authorized resolution 2026-143 to enter a short-term landfill service agreement with Waste Management of Nebraska, beginning July 1, while staff prepares a request for proposals for a longer-term local transfer-station solution.
Public Works Director Dan Gillis said the agreement follows expiration of a long-term relationship with Waste Connections and that the interim deal lowers the cost per ton for the city’s haulers: "Right now, we pay $51 a ton to Waste Connections. Waste Management is going to charge $38 a ton for their first year," Gillis said. The interim contract is intended to give staff time to issue an RFP and evaluate proposals.
Gillis told council the forthcoming RFP will include two procurement tracks: one in which a private vendor proposes to build and operate a local transfer station (longer-term contract) and another in which the city would build and own a transfer station and hire an operator under a shorter-term operating agreement. He said staff expects to issue the RFP within one to two months.
Council and public questions addressed how licensed haulers and residents will be affected. Gillis said licensed haulers will be required to use the city’s designated disposal facility and be treated equally under the pricing terms; residents will have additional disposal options beyond what the city has had for decades. Staff also said that certain items (for example, tires) have differing acceptance rules among facilities but that the city will continue special events for tires and monthly yard-waste acceptance at the recycling center.
Public commenter Mitch Sawyer asked about contract length, RFP timing, and whether Waste Connections would still be required to haul to the same landfill; staff replied the interim agreement buys time for an RFP expected in a month or two and clarified operational details. Council voted 8–0 to approve the agreement.
Council also received the pricing exhibit and instructed staff to proceed with the RFP and procurement tracks.
