Contracted Residential Trash and Recycling Collection

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In early 2023, Fort Collins City Council adopted a contract for residential trash and recycling collection. The new service will start on September 30, 2024.

The new program is designed to increase opportunities for composting and recycling, provide equitable, consistent pricing across the community, and increase safety and reducing emissions by reducing the number of trash trucks on residential streets.

The project to explore moving to a contracted system has been underway since early 2022, when City staff engaged with community members to understand their goals and risks to avoid in a contracted system and City Council’s goals in a project. 

City staff incorporated that feedback, and staff and outside consultants conducted a competitive purchasing process in mid to late 2022. Waste Management, Republic Services, and Sweetman Sanitation submitted proposals. After reviewing each proposal, City staff moved forward with negotiations with Republic Services as their proposal most closely aligned with the evaluation criteria.  City staff then shared the contract with community members and engaged about the contract prior to the Council voting to adopt the contract in late February 2023.


Who's included in the program

The contracted program includes single-unit and multi-unit residential homes (with seven or fewer units) within Fort Collins City limits. The contracted program does not apply to residential dwellings with more than eight units such as large apartment buildings, condos or mobile home parks or any residence using a dumpster for trash service.

Households outside of Fort Collins City limits or in the Growth Management Area (GMA) would not be part of the contract.

Households that prefer to haul their materials directly to the landfill or to use a hauler other than the City’s contracted hauler will pay a monthly opt-out fee of $11.10 per month.

Homeowners Associations with written contracts for trash and recycling service that are in effect before the City contract is signed (April 14, 2023) can apply for an exemption from the City's contract or can opt into the City's contract. The City will verify HOA contracts comply with the City’s Pay-As-You-Throw requirements. HOAs and haulers will have time to amend contracts to comply with the City requirements if needed. HOAs must add yard trimmings collection to their hauler agreements before Sept. 30, 2024 but do not have to add weekly recycling or bulky item collection.

For more information on requirements for Homeowners Associations, contact Kira Beckham and Linda Hardin.


What's included in the program

For a price similar to what most households paid in 2022 for only trash and every-other-week recycling, the contracted program includes weekly collection of trash and recycling and seasonal yard trimmings (April- November) and two bulky item collections per year.

The contracted program also includes an option for households with a very small amount of trash—XS cart service—and those with a large amount of trash—XL cart service.

Contracted prices for monthly service for weekly collection of trash, recycling, yard trimmings, and two bulky item collections per year are:

  • XS cart service (16 gallons): $11.10

  • S cart service (35 gallons): $ 19.10

  • M cart service (65 gallons): $ 37.10

  • L cart service (95 gallons): $ 55.10

  • XL cart service (2 x 95 gallons carts): $ 109.10

These prices include a $1.35 monthly administrative fee to recover the City’s contract administration cost. More information on this fee can be found in the Solid Waste Collection Program Administrative Fee Study.

If a household chooses not to receive yard trimmings collection, their monthly service price will be reduced by $5—except for the XS cart service price, which is not reduced if a household declines yard trimmings collection.

The charts below show the percentage of households using each trash cart size and compare current-day pricing to the contracted program pricing. The current-day pricing is an average based on bills community members shared with the City (see details in the Trash Bill Analysis). Individual household bills in the current system may differ from the charges shown below.

Trash Cart Size

2022 % of Households with trash cart size

Trash + Recycling Only

Current
Avg.

Contract

Price

$
Change

%
Change

XS

0.5%

$15.93

$11.10

$ (4.83)

-30%

Small

43%

$18.18

$14.10

$ (4.08)

-22%

Med

41%

$32.09

$32.10

$ 0.01

.03%

Large

15%

$42.32

$50.10

$ 7.78

18%

XL

n/a

n/a

$104.10


Trash Cart Size

Trash + Recycling + Yard Trimmings

Trash + Recycling
+ Yard Trimmings + Bulky Items

Current
Avg.

Contract
Price

$ Change

% Change

Current
Avg.

Contract
Price

$ Change

% Change

XS

$33.10

$11.10

$(22.00)

-66%

$39.35

$11.10

$(28.25)

-72%

Small

$35.35

$19.10

$(16.25)

-46%

$41.18

$19.10

$(22.08)

-54%

Med

$49.26

$37.10

$(12.16)

-25%

$55.10

$37.10

$(18)

-33%

Large

$59.49

$55.10

$(4.39)

-7%

$65.33

$55.10

$(10.23)

-16%

XL

n/a

$109.10

n/a

$109.10



What happens now and next

The new service will begin on September 30, 2024. This allows the hauler enough time to purchase trucks, hire staff and prepare for the new service. It also allows the hauler, in partnership with the City, to conduct an extensive outreach campaign to ensure community members can prepare for the service change.

Until then, households will continue using the licensed hauler of their choosing.

Households wanting to start or change service before September 30, 2024, may contact Republic Services, Ram Waste / Waste Connections, or Waste Management.

All households enrolled in the City contracted program will be contacted in the first half of 2024 to set up billing with the hauler, select their cart sizes, request a variance, or choose to opt out of the program and pay the opt-out fee. Households will receive bills for service directly from the hauler and have dedicated local customer service representatives.

Enrolled households will receive new trash, recycling, and yard trimmings carts with the City logo in the fall of 2024. These carts will stay with households even if the City chooses a different hauler later.


Learn more

Check out our FAQs for more detailed information and view a recording from a virtual information session to learn more about the draft contract, services, and pricing and ask questions.

Ask a question about the contract by commenting on this page or emailing recycling@fcgov.com.



Systems for Trash and Recycling Collection

There are four ways that cities manage trash and recycling collections for households: a pure open market, an open market with licensing, a contracted system, and a city-owned and operated hauling utility. Local government plays an increasing role in the different types of systems, with the largest role in a city-owned and operated hauling utility and no role in a pure open market system.

Fort Collins currently has an open market with licensing for trash and recycling, meaning that many households shop for and choose their own hauler, or haul their own trash and recycling. Haulers have to be licensed by the City and follow specific guidelines. For example, in Fort Collins, haulers must bundle trash and recycling services in a pay-as-you-throw pricing structure, meaning households pay based on the size of their trash cart. Currently, three nationally-owned haulers in Fort Collins service single-family homes: Waste Management, Republic Services (Gallegos Sanitation), Waste Connections (Ram Waste/Timberline Waste).


What we learned from the initial project research

Fort Collins City Council adopted several priorities in late 2021 to reach sustainability goals, including one to explore moving to a contracted system for trash and recycling. Since then, City staff have researched peer communities with contracted trash and recycling systems, the impact to street maintenance costs, vehicle emissions, noise and safety, our community's concerns and priorities when considering a contract, and the variance in curbside collection pricing that currently exists in Fort Collins.

From this research, staff has concluded that moving to a contracted system is the most affordable way for Fort Collins households to make progress on zero waste goals.



Tell us what you think


In early 2023, Fort Collins City Council adopted a contract for residential trash and recycling collection. The new service will start on September 30, 2024.

The new program is designed to increase opportunities for composting and recycling, provide equitable, consistent pricing across the community, and increase safety and reducing emissions by reducing the number of trash trucks on residential streets.

The project to explore moving to a contracted system has been underway since early 2022, when City staff engaged with community members to understand their goals and risks to avoid in a contracted system and City Council’s goals in a project. 

City staff incorporated that feedback, and staff and outside consultants conducted a competitive purchasing process in mid to late 2022. Waste Management, Republic Services, and Sweetman Sanitation submitted proposals. After reviewing each proposal, City staff moved forward with negotiations with Republic Services as their proposal most closely aligned with the evaluation criteria.  City staff then shared the contract with community members and engaged about the contract prior to the Council voting to adopt the contract in late February 2023.


Who's included in the program

The contracted program includes single-unit and multi-unit residential homes (with seven or fewer units) within Fort Collins City limits. The contracted program does not apply to residential dwellings with more than eight units such as large apartment buildings, condos or mobile home parks or any residence using a dumpster for trash service.

Households outside of Fort Collins City limits or in the Growth Management Area (GMA) would not be part of the contract.

Households that prefer to haul their materials directly to the landfill or to use a hauler other than the City’s contracted hauler will pay a monthly opt-out fee of $11.10 per month.

Homeowners Associations with written contracts for trash and recycling service that are in effect before the City contract is signed (April 14, 2023) can apply for an exemption from the City's contract or can opt into the City's contract. The City will verify HOA contracts comply with the City’s Pay-As-You-Throw requirements. HOAs and haulers will have time to amend contracts to comply with the City requirements if needed. HOAs must add yard trimmings collection to their hauler agreements before Sept. 30, 2024 but do not have to add weekly recycling or bulky item collection.

For more information on requirements for Homeowners Associations, contact Kira Beckham and Linda Hardin.


What's included in the program

For a price similar to what most households paid in 2022 for only trash and every-other-week recycling, the contracted program includes weekly collection of trash and recycling and seasonal yard trimmings (April- November) and two bulky item collections per year.

The contracted program also includes an option for households with a very small amount of trash—XS cart service—and those with a large amount of trash—XL cart service.

Contracted prices for monthly service for weekly collection of trash, recycling, yard trimmings, and two bulky item collections per year are:

  • XS cart service (16 gallons): $11.10

  • S cart service (35 gallons): $ 19.10

  • M cart service (65 gallons): $ 37.10

  • L cart service (95 gallons): $ 55.10

  • XL cart service (2 x 95 gallons carts): $ 109.10

These prices include a $1.35 monthly administrative fee to recover the City’s contract administration cost. More information on this fee can be found in the Solid Waste Collection Program Administrative Fee Study.

If a household chooses not to receive yard trimmings collection, their monthly service price will be reduced by $5—except for the XS cart service price, which is not reduced if a household declines yard trimmings collection.

The charts below show the percentage of households using each trash cart size and compare current-day pricing to the contracted program pricing. The current-day pricing is an average based on bills community members shared with the City (see details in the Trash Bill Analysis). Individual household bills in the current system may differ from the charges shown below.

Trash Cart Size

2022 % of Households with trash cart size

Trash + Recycling Only

Current
Avg.

Contract

Price

$
Change

%
Change

XS

0.5%

$15.93

$11.10

$ (4.83)

-30%

Small

43%

$18.18

$14.10

$ (4.08)

-22%

Med

41%

$32.09

$32.10

$ 0.01

.03%

Large

15%

$42.32

$50.10

$ 7.78

18%

XL

n/a

n/a

$104.10


Trash Cart Size

Trash + Recycling + Yard Trimmings

Trash + Recycling
+ Yard Trimmings + Bulky Items

Current
Avg.

Contract
Price

$ Change

% Change

Current
Avg.

Contract
Price

$ Change

% Change

XS

$33.10

$11.10

$(22.00)

-66%

$39.35

$11.10

$(28.25)

-72%

Small

$35.35

$19.10

$(16.25)

-46%

$41.18

$19.10

$(22.08)

-54%

Med

$49.26

$37.10

$(12.16)

-25%

$55.10

$37.10

$(18)

-33%

Large

$59.49

$55.10

$(4.39)

-7%

$65.33

$55.10

$(10.23)

-16%

XL

n/a

$109.10

n/a

$109.10



What happens now and next

The new service will begin on September 30, 2024. This allows the hauler enough time to purchase trucks, hire staff and prepare for the new service. It also allows the hauler, in partnership with the City, to conduct an extensive outreach campaign to ensure community members can prepare for the service change.

Until then, households will continue using the licensed hauler of their choosing.

Households wanting to start or change service before September 30, 2024, may contact Republic Services, Ram Waste / Waste Connections, or Waste Management.

All households enrolled in the City contracted program will be contacted in the first half of 2024 to set up billing with the hauler, select their cart sizes, request a variance, or choose to opt out of the program and pay the opt-out fee. Households will receive bills for service directly from the hauler and have dedicated local customer service representatives.

Enrolled households will receive new trash, recycling, and yard trimmings carts with the City logo in the fall of 2024. These carts will stay with households even if the City chooses a different hauler later.


Learn more

Check out our FAQs for more detailed information and view a recording from a virtual information session to learn more about the draft contract, services, and pricing and ask questions.

Ask a question about the contract by commenting on this page or emailing recycling@fcgov.com.



Systems for Trash and Recycling Collection

There are four ways that cities manage trash and recycling collections for households: a pure open market, an open market with licensing, a contracted system, and a city-owned and operated hauling utility. Local government plays an increasing role in the different types of systems, with the largest role in a city-owned and operated hauling utility and no role in a pure open market system.

Fort Collins currently has an open market with licensing for trash and recycling, meaning that many households shop for and choose their own hauler, or haul their own trash and recycling. Haulers have to be licensed by the City and follow specific guidelines. For example, in Fort Collins, haulers must bundle trash and recycling services in a pay-as-you-throw pricing structure, meaning households pay based on the size of their trash cart. Currently, three nationally-owned haulers in Fort Collins service single-family homes: Waste Management, Republic Services (Gallegos Sanitation), Waste Connections (Ram Waste/Timberline Waste).


What we learned from the initial project research

Fort Collins City Council adopted several priorities in late 2021 to reach sustainability goals, including one to explore moving to a contracted system for trash and recycling. Since then, City staff have researched peer communities with contracted trash and recycling systems, the impact to street maintenance costs, vehicle emissions, noise and safety, our community's concerns and priorities when considering a contract, and the variance in curbside collection pricing that currently exists in Fort Collins.

From this research, staff has concluded that moving to a contracted system is the most affordable way for Fort Collins households to make progress on zero waste goals.



Tell us what you think

Tell us what you think

Ask a question or leave your comment below letting us know your thoughts on a citywide contract for curbside trash and recycling.

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  • Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linkedin Email this link

    If our HOA keeps our current contract with Ram it is a 3yr contract, will we also have to pay the 11.15 mo fee for not using republic? Or because it is an HOA contact will we be exempt from that fee?

    meldarlyn asked 23 days ago

    Thank you for your question. 

    HOAs with contracts for trash and recycling collection that are in place by March 17, 2023 can continue with their existing contracts (as long as the contracts comply with City requirements) or opt into the City’s contract.

    In Q2-Q4 of 2022 City staff will check HOA contracts to ensure compliance with City requirements. Contracts out of compliance will have a fixed amount of time to update their contracts or join the City’s contract.

    HOAs with contracted collection service will also need to match the same level of yard trimmings collection as the City’s contract provides (including yard trimmings service automatically for residents, but residents may decline the service) by the date the City’s contract starts (September 30, 2024). 

     If HOAs continue their existing contract and are in compliance with City requirements, they/their residents will not have to pay opt-out fees for choosing to continue with their chosen hauler.

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    Why is there an Opt Out Fee for those that don't need or want the service. I know of no other city provided Utility Service like Elec/Water or Internet that charges for no service. I take my own Trash and Recycle items to the Land Fill since I either have a lot of Recycling volume vs the Trash and hobbies that have large bulky items that is incompatible with Trash Bins. I oppose this Opt Out fee.

    Gary Kirkpatrick asked 27 days ago

    Municipalities in Colorado can legally charge an opt-out fee to anyone who wishes to use a different hauler than the awarded contractor or who wishes to haul their own trash and recycling to the appropriate facilities.

    The City of Fort Collins will charge an opt-out fee to provide a baseline of predictable revenue for the contracted hauler so that we can negotiate a cost-effective price for the contracted service. Without a guaranteed quantity of residents, the hauler would not be able to provide the same type of lower, volume-based prices enjoyed by many homeowners associations.

    There are two possible exceptions (called variances) that the City has included in the proposed ordinance changes needed to move to a contracted system.

    Households may submit applications for variances and will be granted the variance if:

    1) They are very low trash produces and wish to share the XS (16 gallon) cart service with another household. In this case, one household would apply for the variance; the City would review the application, and once granted, the two households would decide how to split the cost of the XS cart service between themselves. 

    2) They regularly have more trash than the XL (two 95-gallon carts) cart service can accommodate. In this case, the household may apply for a variance; the City would review the application and, once granted, could contract dumpster service with the provider of their choosing or haul their own trash and recycling to the appropriate facilities.

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    I'm wondering will we be able to exchange our trash cans for new ones when they get dirty and how much would that cost? Also, how much recycling and yard waste cans will we be able to receive between the weekly and bi-weekly services? What would the max amount of yard waste that could be throw away each week before an additional charge and what would the yard waste can size be?

    anonymous2 asked 29 days ago

    Carts can be exchanged when damaged or need to be retired from service. This exchange would be at no cost to the household so long as it is not caused by the household, such as putting hot ashes into a cart and melting it. There will be different size options for recycling and yard trimmings collection carts, but no difference in price with the size selected (only a difference in cost for the selected trash cart size).  Households in the contracted program can expect more detailed information about the available cart sizes and service options in early 2024. Residents will select their preferred trash, recycling, and yard trimmings cart sizes in the first half of 2024, and new, city-branded carts will be delivered in the fall of 2024. 

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    How often would the bulk pickups be? What is the max you could set out for the bulk pickup? Is the city considering a year round food waste/compost option?

    anonymous2 asked 29 days ago

    Bulky-item collection is on-call for up to two bulk item collections in a year. On-call means that when you have something you want to be picked up, you would reach out to the hauler to request the pickup instead of having a set date or week in the year to set out a bulk item. 

    Due to a lack of regional food scrap composting infrastructure, food scrap collection and year-round composting is not included in the contract. The contract could be amended to offer this service when infrastructure comes available. 

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    How does the effect people outside city limits of Fort Collins?

    Peggy asked about 1 month ago

    Households outside of Fort Collins City limits or in the Growth Management Area (GMA) will not be part of the contract. 

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    I am wondering why the city built in a 3% guaranteed increase in the contract vs following the CPI w/ of to exceed 3%.

    Helene asked about 1 month ago

    Hi Helene,

    In the contracted program, price increases would only be allowed in certain circumstances and would be predictable and communicated well in advance of any change.  The contract includes a predictable 3% price increase per year that would be communicated well in advance. Additional price increases would only be allowed in very restricted circumstances (such as new regulations impacting the hauling industry) and would have to be approved by and negotiated with the City.   

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    When and where is the city council meeting that trash service will be discussed .

    Artbcool asked about 1 month ago

    Hi Artbcool. I've included the information for the Council Meeting Below. You can check these details within the Council Agenda found here

    Regular Meeting 6:00 p.m. Tuesday, February 21, 2023 City Council Chambers at City Hall, 300 Laporte Ave, Fort Collins, CO 80521 Zoom Webinar link: https://zoom.us/j/98241416497

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    What do your prices reflect< monthly or quarterly??

    jerseyjim13 asked about 1 month ago

    The prices listed are a monthly service price.

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    I have a problem with the opt out fee. If I don't create enough trash for weekly service why would I have to pay for a service I don't need to use. I understand needing most of the residents to use this service in order to get the proposed rates, but I hope you can come up with another opt out option. In a way, this is a regressive tax hurting the folks who can least afford it the most.

    Nancyg asked about 1 month ago

    Hi Nancyg,

    Thank you for sharing your thoughts. We are gathering this feedback to present to Council at the February 21 meeting. 

    The proposed program reflects feedback from council members and the community by including a variance in our ordinance language for those that generate very little trash to share the XS cart service between two households. This means that you could apply for a variance to allow you and a neighbor to share service for the XS- $11.10/month service. You'd then decide amongst yourselves how to split the cost. 

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    What size recycling carts will be provided? Will there be a pricing differential for larger carts?

    nobody asked about 1 month ago

    The Recycling cart will be a large 95-gallon cart. Residents will have the option to request a smaller 65-gallon recycling cart if they would like to OR up to two large 95-gallon carts for no additional cost. There is no cost difference for the different recycling cart sizes or if you have up to two large 95-gallon carts. 

Page last updated: 23 Mar 2023, 11:16 AM