Fort Collins to contract with Republic Services for residential trash hauling in city limits

After a monthslong search to identify who the city wanted to partner with as its sole provider of residential waste and recycling services, Fort Collins announced Friday morning it is moving forward with Republic Services.

The draft contract between the city and Republic, which bought locally owned Gallegos in 2021, was released to City Council members on Thursday evening. Republic was selected out of three haulers who applied through the city's competitive purchasing process.

The contract has Republic continuing to pick up weekly trash hauls and biweekly recycling but would add weekly seasonal yard trimming pick ups and two “bulky item collections” annually, according to a release from the city. However, council can decide to increase the frequency of recycling to weekly if they’d like for an additional $1.25 per month.

The contract also maintains a price similar to what residents pay for only trash and recycling now, with monthly prices ranging from $11.10 for extra-small cart service to $101.60 for extra-large service. All estimated prices include a $1.35 monthly administrative fee that will go to the city. There would no longer be a separate materials recycling fee, either.

The draft contract shows set monthly prices for service at:

• XS cart service (16 gallons): $11.10

• S cart service (35 gallons): $17.85 — the most commonly selected size

• M cart service (65 gallons): $34.60

• L cart service (95 gallons): $51.35

• XL cart service (2 x 95 gallons carts): $101.60

For all but the extra-small service, prices would decrease by $5 if you opt out of the yard trimming service.

Even though the city will partner with only Republic to provide services, households can opt out for a monthly fee of $11.10 if they’d like to use a different hauler.

Why is Fort Collins partnering with a trash company?

The city began the process of contracting trash hauling services in 2021 after the current City Council named it a priority. In 2022, council voted to move forward with finding a hauler and city staff began outreach with community members around what they wanted from a trash hauler and what risks they wanted to avoid, which helped inform the city’s selection process.

A contracted system is just a system in which haulers compete to provide service to “all single-family, duplex and small multifamily homes” with seven or fewer units in a neighborhood, according to the city.

Benefits of a contracted hauler, according to the city, include fewer trucks in residential neighborhoods, more consistent prices and increased opportunities for recycling and composting.

Previously, the Coloradoan reported that council members who voted for the trash contract proposal praised its potential for lowering residents’ trash bills, allowing for streamlined integration of yard trimmings pickup and reducing truck traffic on residential streets.

When council voted to move forward, staff said the reduction in truck traffic would save the city an estimated $603,000 each year in street maintenance and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by about 1,200 metric tons, which was about .07% of the community’s emissions in 2020.

How will it work?

City Council will discuss and vote on the trash hauler contract at its Feb. 21 meeting and again at the next meeting after that, but don’t expect new service soon.

If council approves the contract, Republic wouldn’t become the official hauler until Sept. 30, 2024, to provide the company enough time to purchase trucks, hire staff and prepare for the service. The contract would last five years, almost through 2029.

For payment, residents would receive bills for service from Republic and the company would have local customer service representatives to help if issues arise.

As part of the new contract, all residents would receive new trash, recycling and yard trimmings carts from the city.

What if I live in a homeowners association?

If you live in a homeowners association, things may be a bit different for you.

If an HOA has a contract that complies with the city’s “Pay-As-You-Throw” and yard trimmings requirements that were in effect prior to the date the Republic contract is signed, the HOA is permitted to continue with its existing contract, though it can also opt into city service.

Previously:Here's what trash pickup in Fort Collins could look like under a citywide contract

Want to know more?

The city is hosting a series of information sessions to walk through the draft contract and get feedback.

The sessions will be conducted virtually and will have a question-and-answer portion with city staff. You can register for the sessions at: OurCity.fcgov.com/Contract-For-Trash.

The sessions are on:

• Thursday, Feb. 16, noon to 1 p.m.

• Friday, Feb. 17, 7- 8 p.m.

• Wednesday, March 1, 7-8 p.m.

Editor's note: The city will provide carts to residents. That has been updated from a previous version of this story.

Molly Bohannon covers city government for the Coloradoan. Follow her on Twitter @molboha or contact her at mbohannon@coloradoan.com. Support her work and that of other Coloradoan journalists by purchasing a digital subscription today.

This article originally appeared on Fort Collins Coloradoan: Fort Collins to contract with Republic Services for residential trash hauling