Council pleased new garbage contract could mean significant savings; fewer service delays

Following years fraught with garbage pickup delays and truck breakdowns, council is pleased with staff’s proposed contract tender with a new company.

Adam Goheen, Director of Operations, recommended Environmental 360 Solutions for the municipality’s next three year contract beginning Oct. 1, 2020.

The projected yearly cost, based on 2019 quantities is $998,053.

In 2019, the County generated $738,120 in garbage bag tag revenue and expenditures for waste collection and organics totalled $1,277,500. Residents pay $3 per garbage bag put curbside. The remainder of the cost is subsidized by taxes.

“Based on historic quantities, it is projected that significant annual savings will be realized with the new service provider,” noted Goheen.

While speaking to Committee of the Whole Thursday, Goheen affirmed the new contract would include monetary penalties should garbage pickup delays not caused by weather.

Four tenders were received for pick up of household waste and organics and landfill and transfer site bin service – with consideration of small/large bulky items at a later date.

The bid from Waste Management, the current provider, came in at the third highest cost. Environmental 360 Solutions, a private, relatively new Canadian-owned company was the lowest bidder, and was recently awarded curbside pick-up contracts in Belleville and Quinte West.

Goheen noted choosing Environmental 360 Solutions and setting coinciding contract end dates to that of Quinte West and Bellevile will allow the County to be in a better position to return to joint tenders with the neighbouring municipalities in future, for more competitive pricing. The County moved away from joint contracts in 2013.

The company has purchased a property in Belleville to use as a transfer station, before waste is taken to landfills in Niagara Falls and north of Cornwall. They will also process organic waste at their location on Phillipston Road in Belleville.

“As the management of domestic solid waste is highly regulated, and the County is not itself equipped to dispose of the volume generated within its boundary, collection and disposal services are required to be contracted,” stated Goheen in his report.

Council members also supported and encouraged municipal plans to focus on public education focused on waste reduction and diversion with special focus on backyard composting, which, if adopted by residents, will also help reduce future costs.

Final approval for the tender is set for council’s Sept. 22 regular meeting.