Supervisors Approve Seven ‘Evergreen’ Trash Pacts

Exclusive contracts for trash collection in the unincorporated areas of the county will continue through 2007, county supervisors decided Tuesday.

The decision came despite protests by some trash haulers who asked for the contracts to be subject to competitive bids.

Board Chairman Jim Silva and Supervisors Charles V. Smith and William G. Steiner approved locking in seven so-called “evergreen” contracts with existing trash haulers, with renegotiations possible in 2002.

The county then will examine the haulers’ ability to comply with a state law that half of all trash collected be recycled by 2000.

During a lengthy policy discussion, supervisors weighed the benefit of competitive bidding for trash collection against the need for companies to have enough of an operating commitment to borrow money to pay off the trucks and special equipment needed for trash pickup.

Supervisor Todd Spitzer, who with Supervisor Tom Wilson opposed the long-term contracts, said he was concerned about mergers in the trash industry and upcoming incorporations, where new cities would want to negotiate their own trash deals.