Saugatuck receives 5 single-hauler bids

By Scott Sullivan
Editor

The City of Saugatuck has received bids from five firms interested in providing single waste-hauler services meant to save money plus wear and tear on streets.

“Response to our request for proposals (RFPs) is better than I’d expected,” said Bill Hess, who has worked on the project, to city council peers at their meeting May 27.

“We’re looking at saving residents and businesses close to half of what they now pay to haul and recycle trash,” he said.

Bidders include Allied Waste Services of Jenison, Chef Container LLC of Holland, Potter Disposal LLC of Holland, Reliable Disposal of Stevensville and Waste Management of Michigan, Inc., with offices in Wixom.

Council—noting more and more cities, including Holland and Grand Haven, have adopted single haulers—started looking at prospects here in 2006, agreeing this February to draft and send RFPs.

A telephone survey last fall of five haulers working in Saugatuck found rates quoted for new service ranged from $16.50 to $19 per month, adjusting upward with time and add-ons. An informal survey of 16 residents who provided rate information found charges ranged from $16.67 to $24 a month, with a $20.47 average.

An October 2007 survey of 18 Michigan cities with population less than 9,000 that have contracted single haulers found monthly residential fees ranged from $7.15 to $14.16, with a $10.08 average. The five bids received in Saugatuck reflect that.

Allied, which provides services to more than 25 municipalities in West Michigan, proposes weekly pickups with first-year rates of $14.60 per month for 95-gallon carts and $12.60 monthly for 32-gallon carts, rising to $15.04 and $12.98 in year two, respectively. The firm declined to bid on recycling and yard-waste service.

Chef, which serves the City of Holland plus Laketown and Fillmore townships, proposes two- and five-year contracts. Both would include costs of roll-off containers for spring cleanups, with the five-year option a rebate (to be negotiated) for recycling. Fees for 32-gallon containers would range from $9.65 monthly for the first year to $10.65 monthly in year five; for 96-gallon containers $10.77 to $11.89. Additional cost for rear-yard pickups would range from $7.50 the first year to $8.28. Yard waste pickups would be offered April through November at $110 to $121.42 per month.

Family-owned Potter, which operates in Heath and Salem townships, offers weekly collections of 96-gallon containers at $8.95 a month, 64-gallon carts at $7.75 per month, 32-gallon carts at $7 per month, and of residents’ own containers at $7.25 a month. It would collect 18-gallon recycle bins weekly for $1.50 more per month. It proposes yard waste collection in 96-gallon containers at $105 per season. A 3-percent increase on all services would be added for the second year of the contract.

Reliable, whose clients include cities of South Haven, Bridgman and New Buffalo, proposes weekly collections of 65- or 95-gallon carts for $15 per month, recycling with one 18-gallon bin for $2.95 per month, and yard waste collection April through November using biodegradable bags costing $15 per pack of 10.

Waste Management, a state corporation since 1944, offers collection of solid waste only with 96-gallon wheeled carts for $15 per month per household, or all-inclusive (solid waste service, recycling with 18-gallon bins and seasonal yard waste) for $21.95 monthly for each house.

Each bid includes specifics making rate comparisons less clear than synopses above suggest.

“We have a lot to review here and more steps to take,” said Hess. “But we’re drawing near.”