California Regional Authority Releases RFP

The South Bayside Waste Management Authority approved Request for Proposals for franchised solid waste and recycling collection services and for operation of the Shoreway Recycling and Disposal Center in San Carlos, Calif. Separate RFPs will be released on Nov. 1 for franchised collection services and SRDC operations, respectively. The release of the RFPs will initiate a competitive procurement process for one of the largest municipal services areas in the United States. Responses to the RFPs will be due back to the SBWMA by March 4, 2008. New services will be initiated in 2010 and 2011.

Allied Waste of San Mateo County currently provides franchised solid waste and recycling collection services for 91,000 residences and nearly 10,000 businesses in the SBWMA service area comprised of the cities of Atherton, Belmont, Burlingame, East Palo Alto, Foster City, Hillsborough, Menlo Park, Redwood City, San Carlos and San Mateo along with the County of San Mateo and the West Bay Sanitary District.

Allied Waste also is under contract with the SBWMA to operate the SRDC. The annual revenue associated with Allied’s existing contracts is $70 million for collection services and $36 million for SRDC operations. These contracts all expire on December 31, 2010.

The SBWMA is also moving forward with implementing a $20 million master plan to guide substantial building and traffic improvements at the Shoreway facility in San Carlos. This facility currently serves as the hub for receiving all trash and recyclables from the service area.

The improvements are necessary to handle an expected increase of over 50,000 tons of recyclables and organics from rollout of new collection services in 2010/11 and improve traffic circulation and customer convenience. The facility has not undergone any major renovations since opening in 1982. The SBWMA will incorporate green building features into the building improvements and expects to pursue LEED certification.

"The end result of this procurement effort and completion of the Shoreway master plan will be the most environmentally sustainable solid waste and recycling collection and processing system in the United States," said Kevin McCarthy, executive director of the SBWMA.

For more information on the SBWMA’s RFP process for future services, please visit the website at www.rethinkwaste.org and click on the link for "Contractor Selection Process."