What you need to know
Curtis Leeth, Shavano Park assistant city manager, said the decision to recommend awarding the contract to their current waste company, Republic Services, came after a residential satisfaction survey, which garnered hundreds of responses, and after receiving and scoring bids from other companies.
The survey on Republic Services showed:
- 78% of respondents believe the current recycling program is effective
- 60% of respondents said they wanted more household hazardous waste pickups
- Respondents frequently mentioned reliability, dependability and timeliness of pickup services
- Most frequent complaints included not enough brush and bulk services or hazardous household waste pickups
Leeth said the decision to renew its contract with Republic Services is due the company’s stellar service as well as the company’s bid which lowered the monthly cost for residents from $34.11 to $29.93.
Republic Services Waste contract includes:
- Two trash pickups per week
- One recycling pickup per week
- Semi-annual brush pickup
To deal with the lack of household hazardous waste pickup, or HHW, the City Council also voted to add a household hazardous waste pickup for an additional $1.31 per month per customer.
“This HHW program allows residents to schedule a pickup at their residence through an online request platform after they schedule the pick up, Republic Services mails a collection kit to their property. [Inside the kit] they get a plastic bag [and] an informational flyer. [Residents will] put all [their] household hazardous waste in it, put it on your front steps and they come and pick it up,” Leeth said.
With the added HHW pickup, residents' monthly waste collection bill is $31.24.
What they’re saying
Prior to the vote, members of City Council praised Republic Services for the stellar service they already provided.
“I've lived in a lot of different cities, and the service that we're being provided by Republic [Service] is outstanding compared to any other city that we've been in,” Alderman Pete Miller said. “So we've been tremendously pleased with the time that we've been here and their service. Their guys are friendly, they pick it up, they make sure they do a good job. It's just this outstanding service.”
“I will give kudos as well to Republic Services for the services provided. Their staff members that are on the ground here in Shavano Park do a great job, and they're very responsive,” Mayor Bob Werner said.
