SAINT PAUL, MN (September 14, 2023) – The City of Saint Paul is seeking to begin an 18-month contract extension for citywide garbage service with the St. Paul Haulers, LLC, the consortium of five garbage haulers that have been collecting garbage for approximately 65,800 one- to four-unit residential dwelling properties in Saint Paul since October 1, 2018. While the extension does not have the cart sharing or opt-out options recommended by the Garbage Advisory Council and the City, it has a better rate for residents compared to other options. The current five-year contract expires on September 30, 2023.
The 18-month contract extension has no changes to residents’ current garbage services, collection day, or designated hauler. The extension includes no price increase in 2024 for customers with small carts with every-other-week service and a very small increase ($0.22 per month) for the customers with small carts and weekly service. Customers with medium and large carts have a larger increase, which is mostly due to the increase in tipping fees at the Ramsey/Washington Recycling & Energy Center ($18 per ton increase).
“Our mission is to provide the highest quality solid waste services and prices for Saint Paul residents,” said Deputy Mayor Jaime Tincher. “We are disappointed that we were not able to get cart sharing as a part of this extension. But there’s still work to be done. This extension ensures we avoid service disruptions as we continue to identify and implement service improvements.
The 18-month contract extension will allow the City the time necessary to fully implement cart management, customer service, and billing functions for the citywide garbage program changes by April 1, 2025, which includes:
- Cart sharing and opt-out provisions will be available to residents
- Streamlined billing using the City’s existing assessment process
- One-stop customer service provided by City staff who are union represented
- Delivery and repair of carts performed by City staff who are union represented
- Integration of hauler route information with our customer service operations
- Up to 20% of collections will be provided by City staff
“This contract extension is the result of a lot of hard work and continuing conversations with our residents and the haulers, and I want to thank the members of the Garbage Advisory Committee for their time and input,” said Sean Kershaw, Director of Saint Paul Public Works. “Working with the haulers, we are getting closer to a program that should address many of our residents’ concerns and aspirations. When we evaluated the request for proposal responses versus the contract extension, this was the best short-term option and rates for our long-term program goals.”
In 2021, the City began reviewing the current policies, procedures, and feedback from residents and city staff about the Citywide Garbage Program. In 2022, Public Works convened a Garbage Advisory Committee with 18 residents who met with City staff for six months and provided a final report to Public Works and City Council with their recommendations in Fall 2022. Saint Paul Haulers, LLC submitted a letter to City Council on February 15, 2023, supporting many of the recommended changes. The City initially pursued a one-year extension with the Consortium.
The City took a dual approach to exploring options for citywide garbage services by having contract negotiations with St. Paul Haulers, LLC and issuing a broader request for proposals in summer 2023.
The City Council will review the proposed contract extension at its September 20, 2023, council meeting. The contract extension would be October 1, 2023, through March 31, 2025.
For information about Saint Paul’s citywide garbage program, visit stpaul.gov/garbage.
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