MARIETTA - Marietta City Council's special utilities committee had a first look at bids for the city's trash hauling contract Thursday. The contract with Rumpke Inc. expires June 30.
Safety-service director Jonathan Hupp said five companies submitted bids for the five-year contract, but individual base and alternate bids will have to be reviewed by the city law director to determine the final costs and whether each bidder qualifies for the contract.
Bidders, in addition to Rumpke, were Cardinal Waste Services of New Philadelphia, Waste Management of Parkersburg, Kimble Waste Services of Dover, and Big O Refuse of Beverly.
New options for city residential service, depending on which bid is accepted, would include pick up of one bulky item (appliance, furniture) per quarter at no extra cost, the ability to have yard waste collected separately for an additional cost, and the availability of larger, covered containers for recycling.
"It's a significant cost for the haulers to provide covered 64-gallon containers, but it helps keep the recyclables from getting wet," said Rob Reiter, coordinator for the Southeastern Ohio Joint Solid Waste Management District.
City residents now set recyclables out in much smaller uncovered plastic tubs provided by Rumpke.
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* Also on Thursday, Jonathan Hupp suggested the city use the Internet to auction items and equipment that are no longer needed.
* The city uses newspaper advertising when materials are to be auctioned.
* City law director Paul Bertram III said council has the option to sell on the Internet, through services offered by eBay, Google, Craigslist and other online entities, but it would require passage of annual resolutions spelling out how the auctions will be conducted, and the city would still have to publish its intent to hold an Internet auction in the local newspaper.
* Hupp expects to have the Internet auction process ready for city use by April 1.
Reiter said the cleaner and drier the recycled material, the more marketable it is for the waste haulers. He said material like plastic wrap and wet paper or cardboard costs more to process and is basically money out of the recycler's pocket.
Hupp said if residents choose to set out more than one bulky item per quarter, those additional items would require a $15 sticker to be hauled away.
"Unlimited trash service is also available this time if residents want it," added Councilman Tom Vukovic, D-4th Ward. "That would include trash and recyclables, but at a higher cost than regular service."
The committee will schedule another meeting next week to consider the contract bids. Hupp said the bid will be awarded by April 1.
