Thurston residents see solid waste service changes with new contract. Here’s what to know
Thurston County residents should have access to better waste disposal services after a new company took over operations this month.
Regional Disposal Company, which does business as Republic Services, won a competitive selection process for a 10-year contract with the county. The Board of County Commissioners approved the contract April 5, 2022, and the contract period began on May 1.
The contract covers solid waste operations and maintenance at county facilities as well as transport and disposal services to a landfill.
Jeff Bickford, Thurston County Solid Waste Manager, said in a recent news release that he is excited to complete the transition to Republic Services.
“We are looking forward to the future and the increased level of service we’ll be able to provide the public,” Bickford said.
Steven Gilmore, team lead and municipal relationship manager for Republic Services, echoed that sentiment in the release.
“Our team is feeling very positive about the transition and is looking forward to beginning operations,” Gilmore said. “To be finally at the start date is exhilarating.”
What is changing?
Customers should see some changes at the county’s three solid waste facilities, which include the Waste and Recovery Center (WARC) off Hogum Bay Road in Lacey and drop-box locations in Rainier and Rochester.
The release says customers at all facilities should see larger containers for recycling and mixed recycling containers replacing separate containers for specific items.
Republic Services also should have staff on site at the two drop-box locations to help customers with recycling and support county disposal operations, according to the release.
The contract does not cover garbage and recycling curbside pickup because Thurston County does not provide or oversee curbside pickup. Residents contract directly with haulers in their area.
Bickford told the board last year that Republic Services will transport county waste via rail and dispose of it at a the Roosevelt Regional Landfill in eastern Washington. The landfill converts methane gas into enough electricity to power 20,000 homes, according to Republic Services.
Bickford also said Republic Services will pay for all necessary utilities for work operations, handle compostable organics and provide new, more efficient equipment.
The contract is expected to cost the county about $18 million a year and may be extended down the line, Bickford said. Compared to the previous contracts, the new contract should save the county about $1 million a year.
Bickford told The Olympian that county customers should not expect any immediate rate increases due to the new contract.
Why the change?
County officials said they had grown dissatisfied with its previous solid waste contracts in recent years and sought a forward-looking change.
The county previously contracted with multiple vendors for solid waste services. They included Republic Services and Waste Connections, the parent company for LeMay, Bickford said. These contracts were in place for over 20 years, he added.
County officials determined the long-time contracts were too complex to manage, fell short of operational needs and did not allow for growth or changes in service delivery, according to county documents.
“We put out a request for proposals back in 2021, basically to consolidate all those operations under one contractor and one contract,” Bickford said.
The move was a long time coming. The board started deliberating issuing a request for proposals in 2018. When the county finally released it in 2021, Bickford said three companies submitted proposals: Republic Services, Waste Connections and Waste Management.
An evaluation committee scored the Republic Services proposal the highest for a variety of reasons but chief among them was its lower cost, Bickford said.
In a 2022 news release, Commissioner Carolina Mejia called the contract a “significant investment” in the community. Public Works Director Jennifer Walker also praised the contract.
“Our new contract increases service levels for our customers and reduces operational costs,” Walker said. “In addition, the contract aligns with the county’s sustainability goals and environmental values.”
This story was originally published May 9, 2023 at 5:00 AM.
