Fort Wayne Seeks Changes to Waste Service Bidding
Subscriber Benefit
As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe Now
The city of Fort Wayne would like to see changes in how garbage collection vendors are awarded contracts. But making changes to the solid waste bidding process would require action by the Indiana General Assembly.
The city says the council will take-up a resolution Tuesday asking the Indiana General Assembly to change the state law to allow municipalities to use a request for proposals process for solid waste and recycling services.
Currently, Indiana code requires municipal garbage contracts to be awarded to the lowest responsible and responsive bidder.
The city believes it could better serve its residents if it could use the RFP bid process in its procurement of solid waste and recycling collection and disposal services instead of a lowest bid process.
This move comes as the city deals with uncertainty with its current trash collection provider, Texas-based Red River Solutions LP, which filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in October.
Meanwhile, the city says someone has been calling residents in Fort Wayne regarding garbage collection concerns and is using inappropriate language. The person indicates they work for the city’s 311 call center. Mayor Tom Henry’s office says the city call center is not contacting in this manner.