Omaha has four options when it comes to a new solid waste contract for the city.
On Wednesday, city officials announced that they have received bids from four companies to handle trash collection.
Those bidders are:
- FCC Environmental
- Waste Connections of Nebraska
- West Central Sanitation
- Waste Management of Nebraska (Who currently collects the city's solid waste)
Bid documents required those interested to bid on a collection system that uses automated trucks and covered carts to collect garbage, recyclables and yard waste.
Bidders provided costs for six options varying by number of carts, yard waste and recycling separation, and schedule:
- Option 1: 3 Cart, Separate Weekly Garbage, Yard waste & Recyclable Collection
- Option 1A: 3 Cart, Separate Weekly Garbage & Yard waste Collection, Bi-Weekly Recyclable
- Option 2: 3 Cart, Commingled (2 Cart) Garbage & Yard waste Weekly Collection, Bi-Weekly Recyclable
- Option 2A: 3 Cart, Commingled (2 Cart) Garbage & Yard waste Weekly Collection, Weekly Recyclable
- Option 3: 2 Cart, Commingled (1 Cart) Garbage & Yard waste Weekly Recyclable Collection
- Option 3A: 2 Cart, Commingled (1 Cart) Garbage & Yard waste Weekly Collection, Weekly Recyclable Collection
Mayor Jean Stothert said, "The bids received are within the estimates we expected and most show our costs will nearly double to continue the service we now provide. This decision will impact every taxpayer for the next ten years or more and we will ask the Council to approve a contract that provides services that meet our needs, at a price we can afford."
Bids will be reviewed and a committee will then evaluate the proposals and submit an evaluation report to Public Works Director Bob Stubbe. He and the mayor will make a contract recommendation to the City Council, possibly in late March.