By ROBIN SHANNON

L’Observateur

LAPLACE – With the current contract for parishwide garbage collection expiring July 31, St. John the Baptist Parish officials have begun seeking new proposals in the hopes that competition may lead to a lower rate for residents and businesses.

The parish is looking for a five-year contract for garbage collection with an option to renew for another five years. The deadline for proposals is June 27.

The parish’s current contract is held by IESI, formerly known as SWDI, which took over garbage services in 2006. The firm charges the parish $2.5 million per year.

The contract covers garbage collection for nearly 16,000 households and small businesses in St. John Parish. The parish estimates the quantity of refuse generated within its borders is about 26,300 tons per year.

The current rate per customer under the IESI contract is $20.66 per month for the service. The fee breaks down to $13.38 per month for twice a week pick-up and a $7.28 landfill disposal, or “tipping fee.”

According to the request paperwork provided from the parish, the contract is a professional service, so price will not be the only consideration in selecting a firm. All proposals will be scored based on qualifications, accessibility, technical capabilities and a past performance review. Contract price represents 40 of a possible 100-point overall score.

Parish President Natalie Robottom has said the parish is only interested in rates for garbage pickup and will not be requesting potential vendors to provide new garbage cans. The contract does call for replacement or repair of cans that have become damaged.

The proposals will also not include any request for curbside recycling.

Robottom said the parish’s current recycling program, which features large storage bins scattered throughout the parish, is suitable for the time being.

Robottom said she is hoping to get the same level of competition experienced in St. Charles Parish when it sought garbage collection proposals late last year. St. Charles received six responses and was able to dramatically lower the monthly fee it had under the previous contractor.

Residents there now pay $9.74 per month. The previous rate was $11.99.

Counting the tipping fee, current total cost is $18.39.