BLOOMING VALLEY — The first step toward semi-automated collection of both trash and recyclable materials in the City of Meadville was taken Wednesday night when Meadville City Council awarded a five-year, $3.5-million contract to Tri-County Industries Inc.

However, unlike previous contracts, figuring out the per-residence cost wasn’t pretty much a matter of adding the city’s administrative costs — primarily the cost of collecting quarterly payments — to the cost of the contract and dividing by the number of residential units.

This time, those residential units will have options. And as a result, the final cost per customer is still being calculated.

Two bids were rejected: Waste Management of Pennsylvania Inc., the city’s current hauler, bid $4.3 million. Veolia ES Solid Waste of Pennsylvania Inc. bid $9.5 million; according to Tim Groves, the city’s finance director, Veolia apparently “double bid.”

When the city mails out its quarterly refuse and recycling bills on April 9, each property owner will be asked to select either a 35-gallon, 64-gallon or 96-gallon rolling trash cart. Those who elect to put out very small quantities of trash will have the option of purchasing tags to be attached to individual bags. “If you don’t return the survey, you’ll get a ‘default’ cart,” City Manager Joe Chriest said.

Each unit, regardless of the trash plan selected, will automatically receive a 64-gallon rolling cart to be used for recyclables.

Switching to the standard-sized carts, which semi-automates the process by allowing the truck to do the work of emptying the container into the truck, is one of the factors included in the bid specifications to hold the cost of collection at approximately the current level. A fully-automated system, in which the truck pulls up next to the cart and an arm reaches out, picks it up and empties the contents into the truck from the side without the driver leaving the cab, isn’t feasible in a city like Meadville, where the trucks don’t have uniform access to the curb, according to consultant Michele Nestor, who worked with city staffers in putting together the bid specifications.

Another cost-cutting factor built into the specifications allows Tri-County to set its own collection schedule.

Although the use of uniform wheeled carts was an important component of the bid specifications, the cost of the carts themselves was not included. Although the contract calls for Tri-County to distribute the carts, the city will purchase them separately, making use of a contract negotiated with the supplier by the State of Pennsylvania. Because the city is using the state contract, Chriest explained Wednesday, a separate bidding process is not necessary. The city’s cost of the carts, which have an estimated life of approximately 10 years, will be incorporated in the monthly fee over a five-year period.

Exact details have not been worked out, but because the carts will be owned by the city, residents will deal with the city — not the hauler — if repair or replacement is required. In addition, when a resident moves, the carts stay with the property, not the individual.

While a final decision hasn’t been made on the supplier of the carts, Tim Groves, the city’s finance director, said quotes received from several suppliers indicate that the total cost to property owners, including the cost of refuse collection, administration and the cart or carts, will be very close to the $19.50 per month that is now being paid by most city residents, even though residents will pay slightly different amounts based on the cart size selected. Those who opt for the bag-tag option will probably pay the lowest monthly rate and purchase tags separately.

According to Nestor, the basic monthly bill, regardless of the amount of trash actually collected, will include the cost of trucks traveling along their pickup routes on a weekly basis as well as the collection of recyclables and yard waste. The goal is to encourage residents to recycle as many recyclable items as possible, thereby reducing the amount of trash collected.

Complaining that she didn’t have enough information to make an informed decision because the final cost-per-property-owner has not yet been calculated, Councilmember Nancy Mangilo-Bittner cast the sole dissenting vote.

According to Chriest, one thing is certain. Even though the current contract expires June 30 and the new contract goes into effect July 1, all the city’s residential customers will continue to pay their current rate in July, August and September — the transition period during which the carts will be distributed. Beginning Oct. 1, when all the carts are expected to be in place, the new rates will go into effect.



Mary Spicer can be reached at 724-6370 or by e-mail at mspicer@meadvilletribune.com.