Maricopa council continues talks for recycling service

The Maricopa City Council has a work session and a regular session on tap Tuesday. One topic the agendas have in common is the city’s recycling service.

At its Dec. 18 meeting, the council approved a one-month extension to its four-month agreement with Environmental Concerns Organization, Inc. (ECO) to collect recycling and hazard waste material. The initial agreement was approved in September.

The extension was approved only after a 45-minute executive session. Connected to that approval was an amendment instructing City Manager Gregory Rose to create a request for proposals (RFP) to rebid the recycling service. Gina D’Abella, executive director of the nonprofit ECO, was left wondering about the future of the company’s relationship with the city and its future in general.

She said the current contract was to have been for two years but had stipulations that she be open five days a week. The costs of that, she said, were five times greater than her scope of service. The cost also surprised City Hall, which shortened the contract and eventually went to rebidding.

ECO has existed for 18 years, with its Recycling Association of Maricopa facility used as the recycling drop-off center. During the previous RFP process, ECO was the only bidder. That contract ends Jan. 31.

Proposals for the RFP will be opened Tuesday at noon.

In the RFP description: “The City of Maricopa intends to establish a contract with a qualified organization to operate a household recycling drop-off station and to hold periodical household hazardous waste (HHW) drop-off events for the City. The successful contractor shall provide labor, materials, equipment, supplies, transportation, staff expertise, and record keeping. The purpose of this solicitation is to secure a safe, expeditious, and cost-effective disposition of recycling materials and household hazardous waste.”

At Tuesday’s work session the council has again scheduled a closed session to discuss recycling and household hazardous waste collection and “direction on how to proceed with this agreement.”

Then, in its regular session, the council may decide to authorize Rose to negotiate with a contactor “deemed most responsive” for the recycling and hazardous waste drop-off station operation.