PORT TOWNSEND — The Jefferson County commissioners agreed Monday to formalize a contract for solid waste transport and disposal with Republic Services, the same company that has been providing services for the past 20 years.
The cost of the contract is $1.3 million to $1.5 million per year, assuming 20,000 tons of material for disposal.
The cost is similar to what the county currently pays under the existing contract.
There will be no rate change for 2019 at the gate at the Jefferson County Transfer Station, 325 County Landfill Road in Port Townsend.
The action was taken after a public hearing to solicit comments on a proposed contract to dispose of 20,000 tons of solid waste annually.
Tom Boatman, the county’s solid waste manager, said only two companies responded to a request for proposals that was issued Aug. 20, 2018: Waste Connections and Republic Services. Two other companies showed an interest but did not submit formalized bids.
He said Waste Connections’ bid was $105 per ton the first year compared with Republic Services’ $68.21.
“That’s $36.79 difference per ton each time it’s handled, and that’s quite significant,” Boatman said.
The term of the contract is 5 years, with two 3-year extensions possible, then it goes to 1-year extensions up to 20 years.
Boatman said the annual cost is based on the Bureau of Labor Statistics Consumer Inflation Rates, the same index that has been used for 20 years. It is based on 95 percent of the Consumer Price Index (CPI) with a rate cap of 3.5 percent, or if it drops, to a minimum of 2.25 percent inflation.
He said there would be no change to the fee paid at the gate at the transfer station, and customers would pay the same costs as of Jan. 1. He does not expect executing a new rate fee over the next five years.
Boatman said the contract can be reviewed by the commissioners at the end of 5 years.
The only person to give public testimony at the hearing was Richard Talbot of Port Townsend, the former solid waste manager.
“Republic has served us well,” said Talbot. “They’ve been a responsive company. The value of this contract is very good and I support it. This is a good move for the county.”
Boatman said the two companies that bid are regional disposal companies. They are not only in the transporting and disposing business, but they own their own landfills.
Republic’s landfill is located in Roosevelt, near the Columbia River Gorge.
“The waste leaves our transfer station and is trucked to Tacoma where Republic owns a railroad node. Then it’s loaded onto trains. It’s much more efficient to send it by rail all the way to Klickitat County.
“Waste Connections said they would take waste from our transfer station and transport it by truck to a landfill they own in Oregon. That was the majority of the cost difference.”
“We have a good relationship and a great partner,” Boatman said. “They’ve overcome all small problems that have come along. They have emergency processes and they gave us everything we needed. They are a good partner in the business, for sure.”
The commissioners have authorized Boatman to prepare a resolution with minor changes that indicates that “this contract is in the best interests of the public.” It will be on the agenda to be signed on either Feb. 11 or Feb. 19.
For more information about the solid waste management plan, the Solid Waste Advisory Board and what types of waste are accepted at the transfer station, visit www.jeffersoncountysolidwaste.com.
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Jefferson County Editor/Reporter Jeannie McMacken can be reached at 360-385-2335 or at jmcmacken@peninsuladailynews.com.
