Albemarle, North Carolina, renews contract with WM

Albemarle, North Carolina, has renewed its waste and recycling collection contract with WM.

The two-year contract begins July 1 and includes weekly curbside municipal solid waste collection, weekly bulk collection of bagged waste, weekly construction and demolition (C&D) pickup and biweekly recycling collection. The city will be responsible for seasonal leaf collection and weekly tree limb, yard waste, white goods and electronics collection.

Albemarle previously had a seven-year contract with the Houston-based waste management company.

RELATED: WM upgrades its Germantown Recycling Facility in Wisconsin

Prior to reselecting WM, the city considered a proposal from Phoenix-based Republic Services, but Albemarle Public Works Director Ross Holshouser says it did not meet the requested service levels.

“Waste Management [offered] comprehensive services at the lowest price,” he said at a city council meeting May 20.

The new contract will see a waste collection and recycling fee increase of $11.03 per month.

“It’s no secret that over the past several years, the cost of services has increased,” Holshouser said. “Garbage and recycling services have risen significantly over the past few years, not just here locally, but nationally.”

The city’s previous contract had a locked 2.5 percent fee increase per year, which allowed Albemarle to avoid the impacts of rising labor, equipment and fuel costs due to inflation.

“Now we’re playing catch-up,” Holshouser said regarding the price increase.  

After the two-year contract expires, the city will be considering in-house options for its residential waste and recycling services.