New trash provider in town

Following the city’s request for bids for new sanitation services, the Atlanta City Council voted Tuesday, June 30, in a special meeting to award a seven-year contract to Waste Connections dba Sanitation Solutions.

The company will begin service Sept. 1.

Waste Management, which has serviced Atlanta since 1970, was awarded the city’s contract in 2013. The company notified the city this year that it would not renew—placing the matter out for bid instead.

Sanitation Solutions ultimately won favor by being the lowest bidder—a $30,000 increase in cost to the city. Additional bids from Republic Services and Waste Management would have increased costs by $99,000 and $140,000, respectively.

David Cockrell quelled concerns about managing the cost increase and its impact to commercial and residential customers.

“I’ll ask you to continue applying the same 4% that you apply year after year to utility. As long as you continue to do that, we will absorb budgetarily. We have the capital, not only in fund balance but capital in operating”, Cockrell said, “I’m not going to ask you to pass along a rate increase other than the 4% we do every year.”

Weekly residential service will remain largely intact—one 96-gallon poly cart and three bags will be picked up once a week with bulk waste removal in the spring and fall. Recycling will be made available to residents as well.

The company will provide residential service five days a week, commercial service, six days a week.