AGENDA CAPTION:
Title
Consider approval of Resolution 2024-206R, approving a Change in Service to the agreement with Texas Disposal Systems, Inc., for the collection and disposal of solid waste and recyclable materials to extend the term of the agreement for five additional years; authorizing the City Manager, or her designee, to execute the appropriate documents to implement the extension; and declaring an effective date.
Body
Meeting date: October 15, 2024
Department: Neighborhood Enhancement - Greg Carr, Director
Amount & Source of Funding
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Account Number: Multiple
Funds Available: FY2025 Budget
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Fiscal Note:
Prior Council Action: Res 2020-216R extended the contract for a five-year term through September 30, 2025. At the October 17, 2023, City Council Work Session, City Council gave direction to move forward with extending the existing contract for another five-year term for the period of October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2030, which will be the final allowable extension of the existing contract.
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Background Information:
Texas Disposal Systems, Inc. (TDS), currently provides Collection and Disposal of Solid Waste and Recyclable Materials through its contract with the City established in 2003. This includes residential curbside pick-up service for trash, recycle, and green waste; multi-family recycling services; and City facilities trash and compost pick-up service. Additionally, the TDS contract provides disposal services for the Community Clean-Ups that take place in April, May, September, and October.
At the October 17, 2023, City Council Work Session, City Council gave staff direction to move forward with the final allowable contract extension for these services which will cover the term of October 1, 2025, through September 30, 2030. Mayor Hughson and Council Members Prather, Scott, Garza and Mendoza voted yes to keep the TDS contract moving forward with the second extension. Council Members Gleason and Gonzales said they wanted to go out for a RFP.
City Manager and City Council all agreed to take the last extension back to Council in mid-2024. The extension will be going to City Council on Oct 15, 2024. We had the May 9th storm, which pushed some things back.
At the City Council meeting on August 5, 2024, multiple speakers spoke requesting City Council go out for a RFP. The new landfill that was mentioned by the speakers is owned by Republic, and formerly Central Texas Refuse/130 Environmental Park. When they first opened the landfill, Neighborhood Enhancement staff attended their grand opening. We asked if they would have a MRF or composting. At that time 130 Environmental Park/CTR was not going to have recycling immediately, and compost was not on their radar. Since then, the company has contracted with Balcones Recycling and is taking material to their MRF in north Austin.
Late 2023, CMO and Neighborhood Enhancement staff toured the 130 Environmental Park landfill. When asked about composting, it still was not on their radar.
In December 2023, Neighborhood Enhancement staff met with Republic management. There are many sustainable projects they have, but most are not in Texas. They are using the natural gas from their landfill in San Antonio for fuel for the city’s bus fleet. While some of the Republic fleet is powered by natural gas or electric, they don’t have plans for that in Texas.
In the regional (Austin to San Antonio) there are different companies for recycle and compost.
Recycle:
Texas Disposal Systems (Creedmoor)
Green Guy Recycling (San Marcos)
Austin Metal & Iron Co (Austin- mainly scrap metal)
Federal Recycling and Waste Solutions (San Antonio)
Balcones Recycling (Austin, San Antonio)
Compost:
Texas Disposal Systems (Creedmoor)
Organics by Gosh (Elgin)
Mesquite, TX Composting Facility
At this time, staff still believes TDS is the best option for the variety of services for our residents. TDS has been a valuable partner with requests (trees for San Marcos Plaza Park, mulch for downtown planting projects), but in times of emergency, TDS has stepped up by prioritizing many roll offs during the May 2015 flood and working with staff for a process to help residents affected by the microburst in April 2017 in the Sunset Acres neighborhoods.
Therefore, this request is to exercise the final contract extension with TDS.
In 2029, staff will develop and issue a Request for Proposals solicitation to establish a new contract for services to begin October 1, 2030.
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Recommendation:
Staff recommends approval of the final extension of the contract with TDS.