Ashland board awards solid-waste contract to Republic Services after debate over curbside recycling

The Ashland Board of Aldermen voted April 7 to award the city’s solid-waste services contract to Republic Services and included an optional biweekly curbside recycling service that staff estimates would add about $5.18 per month to residential bills.

Staff recommended awarding the base residential-exclusive contract, commercial services, construction-demolition roll-off services and the optional biweekly curbside recycling to Republic. In the discussion staff and council members raised concerns about contamination at the existing bulk recycling site, the operational costs of maintaining that site and how phasing to curbside collection would be implemented.

Republic representatives, introduced during the meeting, said the company had added a construction account manager and that container availability would not be an issue. Republic’s general manager, Matt Graham, was introduced and said the firm can stage containers and ramp up service to meet the city’s schedule. Republic staff said curbside recycling would be an inclusive service for all households, though customers could decline the cart and would still be billed under the inclusive rate.

Council members and staff discussed enforcement and camera costs at the bulk site, possible savings if the city closed the site, and practical concerns about switching to biweekly curbside collection. Staff said the city would keep the bulk site operational until container delivery and implementation were complete. The resolution to award the contract with the curbside option passed by recorded voice votes.