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Midlothian approves Waste Connections contract, moves to 95‑gallon automated carts
Summary
The city approved a five‑year contract with Waste Connections to switch most residential trash and recycling to 95‑gallon automated carts, add overflow 'pink tag' pickup and require extensive resident outreach; council approved the contract 6–1.
The Midlothian City Council approved a five‑year service contract with Waste Connections on April 28 that will move the city to automated 95‑gallon carts for both trash and recycling for most customers.
City staff described the transition and service details: residential trash will be collected twice weekly using automated carts; recycling will be collected twice monthly; pink‑tagged overflow bags (sold through utility billing) will allow residents to set out additional material beyond the cart; seniors and disabled residents can request assisted pickup. Staff said the provider will deliver new carts (black for trash, blue for recycling) and will collect older carts placed at the curb during the initial deployment period.
Don Dykes of Bloomfield and Will Tossinson of Waste Connections explained operational features and communications plans: carts will include durable QR codes and lid decals explaining proper recycling and trash items; the vendor will provide pink tags in bulk and the city will coordinate mailers and outreach. Waste Connections said they will accept old carts left at the curb during August pickup.
Council discussed rate impacts and the communications program. Staff said the contract includes CPI‑based adjustments tied to industry indexes and that the change in service and earlier contract rate adjustments together explain the rate change being noticed by some residents. Council approved the contract (item recorded as passing 6–1). Officials emphasized a robust outreach campaign including mailers, decals, and an online landing page to explain the change and how residents obtain pink tags.
