Contracted Residential Trash and Recycling Collection#
Updated 11/1/2024
In early 2023, Fort Collins City Council adopted a contract with Republic Services for residential trash and recycling collection. The new service started on September 30, 2024.
The Contracted Residential Trash and Recycling program is designed to increase opportunities for composting and recycling, provide equitable, consistent pricing across the community, as well as increase safety and reduce emissions by reducing the number of trash trucks on residential streets.
New service begins!
Beginning Sept. 30, City of Fort Collins trash, recycling, and yard trimmings carts will be serviced on a weekly basis, except for XS trash carts, which will be serviced every-other-week. Find your service day on Republic's website or by calling (970) 416-2012.
Residents who are included in the program and did not sign up for City carts by Sept. 30 were automatically opted out and will receive an opt-out bill of $11.10 per month ($33.30/quarter). The opt-out fee will be waived for those who enroll in service by Oct. 30.
Call Republic Services at (970) 416-2012 to enroll in service or opt-out of the program.
Carts
City of Fort Collins Carts
Contact Republic Services to enroll in service and receive City of Fort Collins carts.
If you received a City cart in error, or you wish to exchange your carts for a different size, contact Republic Services at (970) 416-2012.
Carts may be exchanged for free up to two times per year. Additional exchanges cost $35 each.
Old carts
If you have old carts, contact the hauler they belong to.
- Republic Services or Gallegos Sanitation: (970) 416-2012
- Ram (Waste Connections): (970) 226-3396
- Waste Management: (970) 482-6319
Please note: While new City of Fort Collins carts are being delivered and old carts are being removed August through October 2024, code compliance notices will not be issued for the presence of old or new carts placed on curbs or visible in front of any home participating in the City’s residential trash and recycling program.
There are five service level available. Every service level includes weekly trash service (except for XS cart service which is collected every two weeks), as well as weekly recycling collection (up to two 95-gallon carts per week), seasonal weekly yard trimmings collection (up to one 95-gallon cart per week), and collection of two eligible bulky items per year for no additional cost.
Monthly cost is based on the trash cart size you select. Households will be billed directly by Republic Services every quarter.
- XS cart service (35 gallon trash cart collected every two weeks): $11.10
- S cart service (35 gallon cart): $ 19.10
- M cart service (65 gallon cart): $ 37.10
- L cart service (95 gallon cart): $ 55.10
- XL cart service (2 x 95 gallon carts): $ 109.10
For households that elect not to receive yard trimmings collection, the monthly service price will be reduced by $5 for all service levels except for XS cart service.
Billing is conducted by Republic Services. Contact (970) 416-2012 with questions about billing or payment.
Refusal of payment for service or the opt-out fee is a violation of City Code requirements and could result in a Notice of Violation.
Group Billing
Group accounts may arrange for group billing under the City program. For more information or to enroll, contact Republic Services at 970-416-2012.
All single-unit and multi-unit residential homes (with seven or fewer units) within Fort Collins City limits are included in the program. This includes mobile home communities that use cart service. The contracted program does not apply to residential dwellings with more than eight units, such as large apartment buildings, condos, or any residence using dumpsters for trash service.
Exceptions
- Under limited circumstances, households may apply for a variance from the program and, if granted, will not receive services and will not pay the opt-out fee.
- Households in Homeowners Associations that have received exemptions from the program will not be included. To find out if your HOA is exempt, contact your HOA.
- Households may elect not to receive contracted services and pay a monthly opt-out fee of $11.10.
- Weekly trash collection (except XS cart service, which will be collected every two weeks)
- Five service levels available
- Weekly recycling collection (included with all service levels)
- Up to two 95-gallon carts per week
- Seasonal weekly yard trimmings collection (included with all service levels)
- Up to one 95-gallon cart per week
- From April – November
- Collection of two eligible bulky items per year
More Information#
Households that elect not to use the contracted services may opt-out of the program and pay a monthly opt-out fee of $11.10.
Municipalities in Colorado can legally charge an opt-out fee to anyone who wishes to use a different hauler than the awarded contractor or who wishes to haul their own trash and recycling to the appropriate facilities.
The opt-out fee provides a baseline of predictable revenue for the contracted hauler, which enables a cost-effective price for the contracted service.
To opt-out, fill out an opt-out form.
Opt-out form | Formulario de solicitud de exclusión voluntaria.
A household may request a variance that will exclude them from the program, including any services, charges, or fees (including the opt-out fee). There are two situations in which a household may be granted a variance:
1) Shared Service Variance: Two residences agree to share XS cart service. One residence receives a variance to the program. The other residence receives and is billed for XS cart service, and the two residences decide how to split the cost between themselves. Note: the XS cart service includes a 35-gallon trash container collected every two weeks, weekly recycling collection, seasonal weekly yard trimmings collection, and collection of two eligible bulky items per year.
2) Excess Waste Variance: Residence regularly generates more trash than the XL (two 95-gallon carts) cart service can accommodate. In this situation, the residence receiving the variance could contract with the provider of their choosing or haul their own trash and recycling to the appropriate facilities.
The City will review variance applications as they are received. Applicants must provide proof that they meet the qualifications of the variance they have applied for, meaning that 1) the applicant along with a residence that they share service with regularly produce less than 35 gallons of trash every two weeks OR 2) the applicant regularly produces more than two 95 gallons of trash every week. Applications will not be approved until City staff completes a site visit to verify the information provided on the application form. Approved variances are valid for two years.
To apply for a variance, fill out this form.
For questions about variances, email contractfortrash@fcgov.com or call (970) 416-2148.
Homeowners Associations (HOAs) with written contracts for trash and recycling service that were in effect before the City contract was signed on April 28, 2023 were able to apply for an exemption from the City's residential trash and recycling collection program.
Households in HOAs that did not apply for an exemption before December 31st, 2023, or whose exemption application was denied will be included in the program.
To find out if your HOA is exempt from the City’s contracted hauling program, please contact your HOA.
To maintain exemption, HOAs that received an exemption from the City program must:
- Include seasonal yard trimmings collection in the base level of service. Residents may opt out of yard trimmings at any time by contacting their hauler.
- Submit an exemption renewal application at least 30 days before their contract for service is changed or updated. Contracts must comply with the City’s waste and recycling Code requirements. To request an exemption renewal application, email contractfortrash@fcgov.com.
To cancel an exemption, HOAs must return an exemption cancellation form. To request an exemption cancellation form, email contractfortrash@fcgov.com.
Door-to-door service will be provided for no additional charge to residents with disabilities who cannot pull their carts to the curb.
To request door-to-door service due to a disability, fill out a reasonable accommodation request form.
A downloadable copy of the form is available here.
Residential Trash and Recycling Collection Program Reasonable Accommodation Request Form
To report a missed pickup, call Republic at 970-416-2012.
Common issues leading to missed pickups:
- Carts not out on time Republic collects trash, recycling, and yard trimmings between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. To ensure collection, please have your carts set out by 7 a.m. and leave them out until 7 p.m. on your scheduled collection day.
- Blocked access to carts Carts must be accessible for collection. Please ensure there are at least 3 feet of clearance on either side and 16 feet of overhead clearance above each cart.
- Incorrect service day Make sure your cart is placed out on the correct service day. You can check your service day using Republic’s online tool or by calling 970-416-2012.
Service standards
Republic is required to collect missed pickups for Fort Collins program customers within 2 business days of when they are reported. If a missed pickup is not collected within this timeframe, customers will receive a one-month credit. This credit will be applied automatically to the next quarterly invoice.
Additionally, Republic is required to report any uncorrected missed pickups to the City on a monthly basis.
If you would like to report an uncorrected missed pickup for the City’s records, please email contractfortrash@fcgov.com.
Important Note: While the City will log your report, you may not receive a response. To ensure a missed pickup is corrected, you must report it directly to Republic.
Contact Us#
Republic Services
970-416-2012 | RepublicServices.com
Contact Republic Services for information about:
- starting, stopping, or changing service
- reporting a missed pickup
- scheduling a cart delivery, exchange, or pickup
- updating contact information
- billing
- collection schedules
- alley service
City of Fort Collins
970-416-2148 | Contractfortrash@fcgov.com
Contact the City of Fort Collins for information about:
- how and why the program began
- household variances
Frequently Asked Questions#
Services#
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For a price similar to what residents pay for only trash and every-other-week recycling now, the contracted program includes weekly collection of trash and recycling, weekly seasonal yard trimmings, and two bulky item collections per year.
The program includes options for households with a very small amount of trash—XS cart service—and those with a large amount of trash—XL cart service. Residents will be able to select from the below trash cart sizes:
- XS cart service (35 gallon cart collected every two weeks)
- S cart service (35 gallons)
- M cart service (65 gallons)
- L cart service (95 gallons)
- XL cart service (2 x 95 gallons carts)
Recycling will be collected weekly and will continue to be included for no additional charge.
The program includes weekly yard trimmings collection from April 1 - November 30 each year. Households that do not need yard trimmings collection can decline the service and receive a discount on their monthly bill.
The new program will also include two eligible bulky item collections per year.
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Door-to-door service will be provided for no additional charge to residents with disabilities who cannot pull their carts to the curb.
To request door-to-door service due to a disability, fill out a reasonable accommodation request form. Fill out the online form here.
A downloadable copy of the form is available here.
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Republic will continue to provide alley service.
Updated 9/10/24: If you received a notice that your service location was changing from alley to curbside, you can ignore it. Continue placing your trash cart in the alley as usual.
Based on the many concerns raised by community members and conversations with City staff, Republic has reassessed the criteria to transition many homes from alley to curbside service. They will now only switch to curbside service in cases where there is a significant safety concern for either the drivers or residents.
In limited cases in which there is a significant safety concern for residents and truck drivers, and Republic officials decide service location must change from the alley to the curbside, you will receive clear information in advance about the new service location.
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Benefits of weekly recycling include:
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- Anticipate recovering an additional 800-2500 tons of recyclables per year (9%-27% increase over current levels)
- Reduce greenhouse gas emissions from solid waste collection by ~3.8%
- Supports the increase in recycling from online shopping and people working from home
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The program includes weekly yard trimmings collection from April 1 - November 30 each year. Households can opt-out of yard trimmings collection and receive a $5 reduction on their monthly bill.
Use your yard trimmings cart for leaves, lawn mowing trimmings, garden waste, untreated wood, twigs, and small branches (branches must be less than 3" in diameter and short enough to fit in the cart with the lid closed). Using the yard trimmings cart is an excellent way to divert organic material from the landfill.
Please do not put any food scraps*, treated wood, or non-organic material into the cart to ensure that material can be composted.
*Due to a lack of regional food scrap composting infrastructure, food scrap collection is not included in the program. When infrastructure comes available, the contract could be amended to offer this service.
Lids must be able to close. Carts will not be serviced if the lid does not close. Extra yard trimmings next to the cart will not be collected.
If you need extra space, you can request an additional yard trimmings cart for $15 per month. Call Republic at (970) 416-2012 to add this service.
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Yard trimmings collection begins April 1 and ends November 30.
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What will be collected for no additional cost?
The collection of two eligible bulk items a year is included at no cost. An eligible bulk item is one that weighs less than 60 pounds and has no dimension larger than 6 feet. Some examples of eligible items include old vacuums, dining room chairs, luggage, nightstands, card tables, or wicker chairs.
What can be collected for an additional cost?
Larger and/or heavier bulk items can be collected for an additional fee. The price to collect an item is determined on size (does your item have a dimension larger than 6 feet) and weight (does your item weigh more than 60 pounds).
How do I schedule a bulk item pickup?
Bulk item pickup must be scheduled in advance. To schedule a bulk item pick-up, call Republic at (970)-416-2012. For bulk items that are larger/heavier than those included in the cost of service, a Republic representative will provide you the cost of collection for your item when scheduling pick up.
Where can I find more information?
To find the full printable bulk item guide, please visit www.republicservices.com/fortcollins
Note: All bulk item collections will be taken to the landfill. If your item can be re-used, please help Fort Collins divert material from the landfill by donating items to local thrift stores when possible.
Pricing and Billing#
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Municipalities in Colorado can legally charge an opt-out fee to anyone who wishes to use a different hauler than the awarded contractor or who wishes to haul their own trash and recycling to the appropriate facilities.
The opt-out fee provides a baseline of predictable revenue for the contracted hauler, allowing for a cost-effective price for the contracted service.
Exceptions: A household may request a variance from the program that will exempt them from contracted services and the opt-out fee. There are two cases in which a household may be granted a variance:
1) Shared Service Variance: Two residences agree to share XS cart service. One residence receives a variance to the program. The other residence receives and is billed for XS cart service, and the two residences decide how to split the cost between themselves. Note: the XS cart service includes a 35-gallon trash container collected every two weeks, weekly recycling collection, and seasonal weekly yard trimmings collection.
2) Excess Waste Variance: Residence regularly generates more trash than the XL (two 95-gallon carts) cart service can accommodate. In this case, the residence receiving the variance could contract dumpster service with the provider of their choosing or haul their own trash and recycling to the appropriate facilities.
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The prices for the contracted service include a $1.35 monthly City Administrative Fee to recover the City’s cost of administering the contract (including program roll-out, program management, contract compliance, and customer service). More information on this fee can be found in the Solid Waste Collection Program Administrative Fee Study.
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Homeowners Associations, Mobile Home Parks, or Metro Districts that currently have a group account for trash service may continue with a group account under the City program.
Here's how group accounts work: the group account representative will choose a standard trash cart size for their community, either the Small 35-gallon($19.10/month) or Medium 65-gallon ($37.10/month). Republic will bill the group account the cost of the standard cart size for every household in the group. The cost of service may be reflected to residents as part of their dues, or in their lot rent or lease.
In addition to the group account, each household will have an individual Republic account and can choose their own cart size and customize their service to best meet their needs.
Important to note:
Residents’ individual accounts will be directly billed by Republic for: overflow trash or if a household selects a service level larger than what is paid for by the Group Account.
A household will receive a credit balance on their individual Republic account if: the household selects a service level less than what is paid for by the Group Account, opts-out, receives a program variance, and uncorrected missed pick-ups.
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When comparing the price of service before the program began with contracted price for service, the contracted service price is lower than the average service price paid by residents before the program began.
- In the contracted program, price increases are only allowed in certain circumstances and will be predictable and communicated well in advance of any change.
- The contract includes a predictable 3% yearly price increase that will be communicated well in advance. Additional price increases will only be allowed in very restricted circumstances (such as new regulations impacting the hauling industry) and must be approved by and negotiated with the City.
- Residents paid different prices for the same service before the program began.
- A Trash Bill Analysis of prices paid by Fort Collins residents in 2022 showed a wide variation in prices paid under the current licensed, open-market system. Some residents paid $10-$15 more for the same service from the same company in the same area of town. The contracted program gives all residents access to the same cost-effective rates for service.
- Residents had little control over pricing before the program began.
- Before the program began, each household negotiated its price with its hauler. If they dislike the price offered, the primary option was to select another company, which may or may not offer a better price.
- In the contracted program, price increases are only allowed in certain circumstances and will be predictable and communicated well in advance of any change.
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When comparing the average price for service in 2022 and the contract price for service, the cost per household is expected to decrease for most customers due to the efficiencies of a hauler servicing every household on the street. See details in the chart below.
- The “current price” in the chart above comes from a Trash Bill Analysis of averaging the prices paid by Fort Collins residents in 2022, which showed inconsistencies in prices paid under the current system. Some residents pay $10-$15 more for the same service from the same company in the same area of town. The program will give all residents access to the same cost-effective rates for service.
- Individual household bills in the current system may differ from the charges below.
- With the addition of yard trimmings and bulky item collections, more Fort Collins households may be able to decrease the size of their trash carts and save on their monthly bill.
- The “current price” in the chart above comes from a Trash Bill Analysis of averaging the prices paid by Fort Collins residents in 2022, which showed inconsistencies in prices paid under the current system. Some residents pay $10-$15 more for the same service from the same company in the same area of town. The program will give all residents access to the same cost-effective rates for service.
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If you opted-out of yard trimmings, the cost of service was reduced from your rate. A credit does not appear as a separate line item.
Customer Service#
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For questions about your service, please call Republic at (970) 416-2012. Republic is the primary service provider for the following topics:
- billing questions,
- updating an address,
- collection day schedule,
- cart delivery or pickup,
- enrolling in service or opting-out,
- changing service including changing the size of your trash cart,
- missed pickups,
- or alley service.
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Contact Environmental Services staff at (970) 416-2012 or email contractfortrash@fcgov.com to:
- Ask questions about City policy, including how and and why there is now a contracted program for trash and recycling collection, why there is an opt-out fee, or qualifications for household variances.
- Submit feedback about service provided by the City contractor.
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In Fort Collins’ current open market system, customer service is unregulated.
In the contracted program, the hauler will be held to high customer service requirements.
The hauler will face financial penalties if they do not meet metrics such as responding to customers within one business day or if hold times exceed three minutes.
They must also maintain dedicated customer service representatives focused on the Fort Collins program.
If residents experience issues such as not having their carts not delivered by the next service day or not having a missed collection picked up within one business day of being reported, they will receive a one-month service credit and the hauler would have to pay an additional penalty.
If issues become persistent, the City could exit the contract.
Contracted Program Details#
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The City of Fort Collins will manage the contract with the selected hauler and provide education and outreach to the community.
The contracted hauler will conduct billing and provide dedicated customer service representatives for this program.
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The contract term is for five years from the service start date. At the end of the contract, the City will conduct a new competitive purchasing process and may or may not switch to a different hauler.
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The contracted program includes residential dwellings with seven or fewer units per building within Fort Collins City limits that use cart service (including single-family homes, townhomes, duplexes, mobile home communities and small apartment complexes or condos of up to seven units).
Households outside of Fort Collins City limits or in the Growth Management Area (GMA) will not be part of the contract.
Homeowners Associations (HOAs) with written contracts for trash and recycling service that were in effect before the City contract was signed on April 28, 2023 were able to apply for an exemption from the City's contract. Households in HOAs that did not apply before December 31st, 2023, or whose exemption application was denied will receive contracted services. To find out if your HOA is exempt, contact your HOA.
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Apartment or condo complexes with seven or fewer units per building are included in the contracted program if they are served by trash carts (and not dumpsters). Multi-unit residential properties with eight or more units per building will not be included in the contracted system but can choose to opt-in by contacting the hauler and requesting service.
Colorado State Law prevents local governments from requiring contracts for trash services for multi-unit or commercial properties, so apartments or condos with eight or more units, businesses, and construction sites would not be part of a contracted system.
Mobile home parks in which every unit has their own cart would be included in the contracted collection program. Mobile home parks that use a dumpster are not part of the contracted collection program.
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Households may hire their own company for waste hauling services but will need to pay an opt-out fee of $11.10/per month.
The opt-out fee provides a baseline of predictable revenue for the contracted hauler, allowing for a cost-effective price for the contracted service.
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All households included in the program that do not opt-out will receive new, city-branded trash, recycling, and yard trimmings carts.
The contract includes new, city-branded carts for the following reasons:
- Having all new, city-owned carts prevents any company looking to submit a proposal for the City contract from having an advantage in the competitive purchasing process because of carts.
- For instance, if one company had many carts in the community now and didn’t have to replace them, they might be able to offer a different price than other companies because they don’t have to purchase or deliver carts. To receive multiple competitive proposals and the best pricing for Fort Collins residents now and in the future, the competitive purchasing process is designed to prevent such advantages.
- It provides less change when the next contract starts.
- Regardless of whether the City is to select a different hauler in the next competitive purchasing process, carts will remain at households. These cost savings can be passed along to residents.
- Fort Collins has received a grant from The Recycling Partnership to offset part of the new cart cost. These savings are passed through to residents and result in a $0.25 / month/household reduction in the rates, reflected in the service prices shared with the community.
Old carts
Republic will pick up their old carts either reuse them in other areas, or recycle them. Republic partnered with Rehrig Pacific, a cart manufacturer that has a well-established buy-back program for carts that have reached the end of use. Rehrig has a network of recyclers that grind old carts down into a size that can be used in the manufacturing process. This circular economy model diverts old carts from the landfill and re-uses the old cart material by injecting it into the core of new carts for distribution.
Other haulers will collect their carts for no additional charge and reuse them in other areas or recycle them.
- Having all new, city-owned carts prevents any company looking to submit a proposal for the City contract from having an advantage in the competitive purchasing process because of carts.
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Yes, customers may suspend service for one month or more once per calendar year. During the service suspension, the customer will be charged the XS service rate ($11.10 / month). The customer will not be charged to start or end the service suspension.
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Three companies submitted proposals to the City’s competitive purchasing process: Republic Services, Sweetman Sanitation, and Waste Management.
A cross-functional assessment team of City staff and outside consultants with expertise in single-hauler contracts evaluated the proposals and interviewed the three firms.
The assessment team determined the proposal from Republic Services most closely aligned with the evaluation criteria. The City then negotiated the contract with Republic.
Contracted Program Policy Overview and Benefits#
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In a contracted system, haulers compete for the chance to provide service to all single-family, duplex, and small multifamily homes (with seven or fewer units) in a neighborhood. The contract provides the city the option to obtain curbside collection services at “bulk rate” prices for households. Households that want to use a different hauler can pay an opt-out fee. Communities in Colorado and across the U.S. have found that this type of system reduces the number of trucks in residential neighborhoods, makes prices more consistent, and increases opportunities for recycling and composting.
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In addition to a contracted system, there are three other systems cities can use to manage trash and recycling collections for households.
- Pure Open Market: Each household chooses their own hauler for trash and recycling collection. Local government does not play a role in this system.
- Open Market with Licensing (system Fort Collins’ used to have): Each household chooses their own licensed hauler for trash and recycling collection. The local government issues the licenses and may include requirements such as offering recycling and compost collection.
- Contracted System (system Fort Collins moved to): A local government contracts with one or more companies to provide residential trash and recycling collection.
- City Hauling Utility: A city owns and operates their own hauling utility using city staff, resources and equipment.
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Fort Collins moved to a contracted system for residential trash and recycling collection to increase opportunities for composting and recycling, provide equitable, consistent pricing across the community, and increase safety and reduce emissions by reducing the number of trash trucks on residential streets.
For a price similar to what residents paid for only trash and every-other-week recycling in 2023, the program includes weekly trash and recycling collection and two additional services: weekly, seasonal yard trimmings collection and two bulky item collections per year.
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The project to explore moving to a contracted system began in early 2022, when City staff engaged with community members to understand their goals and risks to avoid in a contracted system and City Council’s goals in a project.
City staff incorporated that feedback, and staff and outside consultants conducted a competitive purchasing process in mid to late 2022. Waste Management, Republic Services, and Sweetman Sanitation submitted proposals. After reviewing each proposal, City staff moved forward with negotiations with Republic Services as their proposal most closely aligned with the evaluation criteria. City staff then shared the contract with community members and engaged about the contract prior to the Council voting to adopt the contract in late February 2023.
Materials for each City Council meeting on this topic can be found below:
- April 12, 2022 work session: What is contracted residential hauling, how it is different from a licensed open market, and initial feedback received from the community
- July 12, 2022 work session: Discussion of contracted residential hauling program elements
- July 19, 2022 regular session: Resolution directing the design and issuance of a Request for Proposals for contracted residential hauling
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February 21, 2023 regular session: First reading of contract approval
- Written materials (agenda item #15)
- Meeting recording
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March 7, 2023 regular session: Second reading of contract approval
- Written materials (agenda item #3)
- Meeting recording
Read the Current Contract for Residential Solid Waste Collection Services.
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- Fewer trucks on the road and only one service day per week per neighborhood
- Increases safety, improves air quality and reduces greenhouse gas emissions from fewer trucks operating in neighborhoods.
- More services for a similar price
- For a price similar to what residents paid for only trash and every-other-week recycling in 2023, the contracted hauling program includes weekly trash and recycling collection while adding weekly seasonal yard trimmings and two bulky item collections per year.
- The contracted program is the most affordable way to add yard trimmings collection service for community members.
- Low-income residents identified the cost of bulky item disposal as a barrier in the current open market licensed hauling system. The contracted program addresses that need by providing $70-$80 worth of bulky item collection for each household each year for no additional charge.
- Uniform, predictable pricing
- All community members will have access to the same service price for the same services. Price increases are only allowed in certain circumstances and will be predictable and communicated well before any change.
- A lot of prices paid by Fort Collins residents in 2022 showed a wide variation in prices paid under the current licensed, open-market system. Some residents paid $10-$15 more for the same service from the same company in the same area of town. The contracted program gives all residents access to the same cost-effective rates for service.
- Customer Service standards
- In the open market system, the City cannot regulate customer service from haulers. The contracted program will hold the hauler to high customer service requirements.
- The hauler will face financial penalties if they do not meet metrics such as responding to customers within one business day or if hold times exceed three minutes.
- The hauler must also maintain dedicated customer service representatives focused on the Fort Collins program.
- If residents experience issues such as not having their carts delivered within five business days or not having missed collections picked up within one business day of being reported, the customer will receive a one-month service credit and the hauler will have to pay an additional penalty.
- If issues become consistent, the City could exit the contract with the hauler.
- The City will devote resources specifically to enforcing the contract requirements.
- Fewer trucks on the road and only one service day per week per neighborhood
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Moving to a contracted system is the most affordable way for Fort Collins households to progress on zero waste goals and addresses feedback community members have shared with City Council about frustration with multiple trash companies servicing the same neighborhoods.
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The contracted program is the most affordable way to enable actions critical to meeting Fort Collins’ adopted goal to produce zero waste by 2030.
Fort Collins has identified a stagnant residential trash diversion rate as one of the challenges to progress on that goal. Fort Collins's 2021 Residential Diversion rate was 29%, and the Community Diversion Rate (combining residential, commercial, and industrial materials) was 52%.
Contracted residential trash and recycling collection aligns with several adopted plans and other Council priorities. Those plans include:
- Big Move 2: Zero Waste Neighborhoods
- Principle ENV 5: Create a Zero Waste System
- Environmental Health 4.3 Zero Waste
Contracting for single-family home trash, recycling, and compost supports
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Accelerate Composting:
- The proposed program would enable a 78% - 130% increase in yard trimmings composted from Fort Collins residents.
- Composting is a critical path for meeting climate goals.
- Food scraps can be addressed in a contract amendment in the future as the options for food waste composting infrastructure becomes clearer.
- Improve Air Quality:fewer trucks driving along residential roads reduces related air emissions and greenhouse gas emissions.
- Enhanced Recycling Education:The proposed program would include educational requirements in a contract for residential trash, recycling and compost service. It would also ensure all residents could have access to the same educational resources and programs and many would be provided in Spanish.
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The contract for one trash and recycling service provider will decrease the number of heavy trash and recycling trucks on residential roads. A trash truck causes wear and tear on a residential road equivalent to over 1250 passenger vehicles, so multiple haulers operating on a street significantly increase road maintenance costs.
The contract will provide uniform and transparent pricing for households, set customer service requirements for the waste hauling company, and increase the ability for the City to offer services that reduce waste, like yard trimmings and bulky item collection, for about the same price as households pay for trash and every-other-week recycling only now.
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The contracted service only represents 20% of the market share in Fort Collins. Other haulers will remain active in the community and region.
- The contract impacts approximately 20% of the Fort Collins trash and recycling market share by revenue. The remaining 80% (Homeowner’s Associations with contracts for trash and recycling service, Construction and Demolition Sites, and Multi-Family and Commercial service) will continue to be under the open market and would provide opportunities for multiple hauling companies to remain active in the community.
- At the end of the five-year term of the current contract, the City will run a new competitive purchasing process. Other Colorado communities with contracts have received multiple competitive proposals each time they engage in a new round of the competitive purchasing process. Based on the proposals received, Fort Collins could then change service providers or stay with the same hauler.
- The contract includes strict requirements for customer service and high-quality service. If residents experience issues such as not having their carts delivered within five business days or not having missed collections picked up within one business day of being reported, they will receive a one-month service credit and the hauler will also face financial penalties. If issues become persistent, the City could exit the contract.
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More than 70% of U.S. cities use either a contracted system or municipal hauling utility. On the Front Range, more than 10 cities have a contracted system for trash and recycling including Commerce City, Dacono, Edgewater, Frederick, Greenwood Village, Golden, Lafayette, Lone Tree, Louisville, Morrison, and Sheridan.