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May 24, 20234 min read

Garbage! New trash and recycling plan (and fees) for Willow Park, UPDATE

Summary: Update, Willow Park residents, who have their garbage and recycling collected by Republic, will see their monthly solid waste fee increased to $20.78 plus 8.25% tax for a total of $22.49, as of the May or June 2023 city utility bill. During the 11 April 2023 Council Meeting, Willow Park joined with five (5) neighboring cities -- Aledo, Hudson Oaks and the three Annettas -- to leverage their combined buying power in a Joint Solid Waste Agreement with Republic Waste Services of Texas, Ltd. Trash and recycling rates will increase at about 4% a year, and in 2026, trash and recycling will be collected by an "entirely new fleet of automated side loader trucks."

Latest Update: Update Friday, 19 May, 2023; Update Monday, 17 April, 2023


 

Garbage! New Trash and recycling plan for Willow Park and an increase in fees.

Update

As reported in the 19 April 2023 original post below, Willow Park residents, who have their garbage and recycling collected by Republic, will see their monthly solid waste fee increased to $20.78 plus 8.25% tax for a total of $22.49, as of the May 2023 city utility bill.

***EDITED TO REFLECT CLARIFICATION FROM REPUBLIC ON MAY 19: Cart rental fees will be charged beginning in June to customers who are currently renting a cart. The Republic-issued rental carts will not be a requirement until May 2026, when the contract renews. We do encourage our residents to be aware of this coming change and make arrangements to have a rental cart before that time by contacting the city. And we apologize for the miscommunication when this was originally posted.***


Beginning this month, residential trash and recycling customers will see a rate increase due to a new contract with Republic Services. The new rate per month will be $22.49, which will be reflected on the May statements due June 10. This includes the fees for solid waste pick-up, recycling, and cart rental.


For those customers who do not already have a cart for trash from Republic, they are working on an inventory of their customers to ensure everyone has a cart. You can reach out to the city at info@willowpark.org to let us know if you don’t have a cart and city staff will get that information to Republic Services.


Original Post, 19 April 2023

During the 11 April 2023 Council Meeting (Agenda Item 6), Willow Park joined with five (5) neighboring cities -- Aledo, Hudson Oaks and the three Annettas -- to leverage their combined buying power in a Joint Solid Waste Agreement with Republic Waste Services of Texas, Ltd.


Currently there are two contracts with Republic Waste, one for collection and one for waste disposal. The new contract combines both services.

The first change is an extension of the current contract and an increase in fees. Residential customers will see "base rate schedules are increasing slightly for 2023 from $16.79 to $17.63. A fixed 4% annual increase to the base rates is built in each year of the renewal, on May 1, 2024, and May 1, 2025."


Then, in May 2026 a new contract begins with Republic Waste.

The new contract states that "beginning May 1, 2026, Republic’s garbage, trash, and recycling collections will all be by polycarts, and Republic agrees to utilize an entirely new fleet of automated side loader (ASL) trucks to service all the cities for garbage, trash, and recyclable materials; however, Republic may utilize its existing fleet for brush and debris collection and disposal." The ASLs will have one driver, who may also get out of the truck to pick up extra bags of recycling that do not fit in the polycart bins.


In addition, this new contract will allow Willow Park commercial and residential customers and Republic Waste Services to budget and plan long term.


Beginning May 2026 the residential base rate of $19.83 will increase to $20.78 and then increase 4% every year thereafter


A representative from Republic Waste Services bragged on the employees who serve Willow Park and surrounds; she said "they are the best of the best, and Republic receives very few complaints about service in this area." She added Republic Waste Services employees, who serve our area, live in our area and are proud to be identified as Republic Waste Services employees.


Willow Park Research:

The council voted to amend the existing joint solid waste contract with Republic Waste Services. The existing agreement expires April 30.


The amended renewal will run through April 30, 2026. It will also bring the city of Aledo onboard to join existing agreement members Willow Park, Hudson Oaks, Annetta North, Annetta South, and the Town of Annetta.


Also, beginning in May, the monthly rate for collection be will $20.78 ($17.63 base fee, $3.15 for cart) for trash and recycling pickup throughout all six cities with a 4% annual increase in the base fee.


Beginning on May 1, 2026, Republic’s garbage, trash, and recycling collections will all be by polycarts, and Republic will use an entirely new fleet of automated side loader trucks to service all the cities for such collections, doing away with the current system of workers manually emptying the trash and recycle into the back of the trucks. However, Republic may continue to utilize its existing fleet for brush and debris collection and disposal.


Republic officials also noted that no employees will lose their job as a result of the change in pickup. They will be given other duties within the company.


Once the amended renewal expires, the new agreement begins May 1, 2026 for a five year initial term with a five year automatic renewal, unless 180 days notice of non-renewal is provided. After the five year initial term, a city may terminate the agreement for convenience for that city on the annual anniversary date by giving at lease 120 days notice to Republic.


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