The Thurston County Board of Commissioners (BOCC) on Tuesday approved a new contract for county solid waste operations, maintenance, transport, and disposal services with Republic Services.
The 10-year contract provides additional disposal transport capacity at county facilities, increases staffing levels for contracted operations, and improves ground maintenance.
"This contract represents a significant investment for our community," said Commissioner Carolina Mejia.
"It is estimated that with the new contractor, the county will save $1 million annually," Commissioner Tye Menser wrote in a Facebook post. "It promises to be a win for the county residents."
The approved contract also covers the operation and maintenance of the county's three solid waste facilities, including the Waste and Recovery Center in Lacey and drop-box locations in Rainier and Rochester.
According to Thurston County FAQ sheet, waste will be collected at the Rainier & Rochester drop boxes and the Thurston County Waste and Recovery Center (WARC) in Hawks Prairie where they will be sorted for recycling, and organic waste processed as compost.
The rest of the garbage collection will be sent to the Roosevelt Regional Landfill in Southeast Washington, from which methane emissions will be used to generate enough electricity to power 30,000 homes annually.
Republic Services will also provide new equipment with improved fuel and emission standards. The new deal provides for increased capacity at county facilities, more staffing levels for operations, and $50,000 for equipment maintenance.
The Board's approval comes after a multi-year process of selecting contractors that would comprehensively address garbage and recycling needs for Thurston County residents. Prior to the approval, the BOCC also held a public hearing last March 22.
Comments
No comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here