Wheatfield Board selects Modern as garbage collection contractor

by Ralph Schwarz
Niagara Wheatfield Tribune, Dec.22, 2004

Starting Jan. 1, Wheatfield residents will see a new company collecting their household wastes and recyclables.

By a unanimous decision, the Wheatfield Town voted Modern Disposal as the town’s new waste disposal contractor in a special board session on Dec. 13.

Modern was one of three prospective contractors that submitted bids to the town. Other bidders included Upstate Disposal and BFI Waste Management Systems, the town’s current contractor.

The contract with BFI expires Dec. 31.

“After interviewing all three bidders, the Town Board felt that Modern would provide the best service for our residents,” said Town Supervisor Timothy Demler to the Tribune. “Modern was the low bidder with $710,000 per year for the collection of garbage and recyclables, and this amount does fall within the budget number we were hoping for.”

The annual fee breaks down to $560,000 for the garbage collection and $150,000 for the collection and disposal of recyclables, Demler added.

The original submitted bids ranged between $723,000 to $740,000. In 2003, the town spent $590,000 for the curbside collection of trash and recyclables.

New Contract For 2005

The garbage and refuse contract time will cover a period of three years with options for two two-year renewals. The town will have the option on the first renewal, while both parties will have a mutual option on the final renewal.

Under the contract, Modern will conduct a weekly curbside collection of garbage, solid and bulk wastes, refuse and recyclables from all eligible one-, two- or three-family homes within the town boundaries and provide for the proper disposal of all collected solid wastes at its facilities. In 2005, the contractor will collect garbage from 5,403 housing units, while picking up recyclables from approximately 5,700 units.

“Modern will provide us with the collection of unlimited garbage, meaning that there will be no limits on the number of bags per household,” Demler said. “And in addition to the weekly white pick-ups, Modern will also collect heavy appliances every week.”

The new garbage contractor will also pick up any old refrigerators and remove the toxic liquid coolant substance at its facilities at no additional charge and conduct tire drop-offs at various dates throughout the year, the supervisor added.

Other Reasons

“Modern will also add several dumpsters for the town use and provide unlimited access to porta-johns at all town events at no costs,” Demler said. “The town usually had to pay for this service.”

To help Wheatfield residents become familiar with their new waste disposal contractor, Modern will also send a special information package, including recycling menu and additional pick-up information.

“Although it will be an official mailing coming form the town of Wheatfield, Modern will cover all the costs for it,” said Demler, who credited Councilmen Art Palmer and Larry Helwig for putting together a successful bidding program.

“Their program helped to get the costs down by $30,000,” Demler said.

Good Partnership with BFI

With regard to the departing contractor, BFI Waste Management System, Demler said that the decision to go with Modern was purely business-oriented.

“It was nothing against BFI,” he said. “We had a very good relationship with BFI. Our decision was based on going with a program that offered $20,000 difference in costs and what we felt were improved services.”

Wheatfield residents currently pay an annual fee of $74 per home for the collection of refuse and recyclables. For 2005, the fee will increase to $105 per home. A $35 reduction in sewer taxes, however, will absorb that increase, Demler said.

“We knew that every contractor would go up with his fees; that’s why we cut the sewer taxes,” he said. “Our residents will still save money and have a better service. – There’s your $2.50 tax cut.”