Outsourcing Solid Waste Collection Outsourcing Solid Waste Collection

Outsourcing Solid Waste Collection

Outsourcing Solid Waste Collection

Outsourcing Solid Waste Collection Background • • • Smaller town outside of major metropolitan area 31, 000 people 9, 000 houses 150 Small business Public Works has 33 people and $6 M budget. Roughly $1. 6 M of that is for solid waste Had successfully contracted with Republic for 20 years on a 5 -year renewal basis • Happy with service • Calls were overwhelming Town staff • Wanted to be good fiscal stewards of the public’s money

Outsourcing Solid Waste Collection Process What was important? • Service • Contractor had to take load off of staff • Cost • Intangibles Who were the Stakeholders? • Citizens • Elected officials • Environmental Advisory Committee • Staff Process • Request for Qualifications (RFQ) • Shortlist for Request for Proposal (RFP)- task or performance based • Presentations for top candidates • Negotiation

Outsourcing Solid Waste Collection RFP Process • Sent out RFQ to 20 vendors • Sent RFP to top four • Weekly pick up of trash, yard waste and bulky items (call-in) • Bi-weekly pick up of recyclables • Call center to receive customer calls • Level of service • Cost breakdown • Asked top two for presentations to committee • Based on proposals and presentation, brought recommendation to Board

Outsourcing Solid Waste Collection Results What was important? • Service • Contractor had to take load off of staff • Cost • Intangibles

Outsourcing Solid Waste Collection Pros and Cons of Outsourcing Pros • Don’t have to have additional staff • Don’t need equipment and associated maintenance • Don’t have to directly handle issues (hydraulic leak cleanups, customer service, employee issues) Cons • Aren’t as intimate with the daily operations. Not the first to hear about issues. Only hear once it becomes a major problem • Residents sometimes given incorrect information • Sometimes poor communication • Don’t have direct control of drivers • Don’t have the profit center