Suburban Disposal gets $4.35 million contract for Paterson garbage collection
By Jayed Rahman
Published: June 16, 2020
Fairfield-based Suburban Disposal, which has been criticized over the years for poor performance, received a $4.35 million contract to handle garbage collection in Paterson.
Municipal officials awarded the contract which runs from July 1, 2020 through June 30, 2021 last Tuesday.
Some council members opposed the one-year renewal for Suburban Disposal, also known as Roselle.
Councilman Michael Jackson said the firm has been providing “poor services” to the community.” Trash is not picked up when it falls on the roadway during garbage collection and receptacles are tossed by workers all over the place, he has said.
Some wanted the city to obtain new bids before renewing the contract. However, the city’s waste management consultant said obtaining new bids now will likely result in higher prices for the city.
In March 2017, municipal officials awarded the company a three-year contract worth $12 million from July 1, 2017 through June 30, 2020. That contract contains language that allows the city to renew the contract for two additional one-year periods.
Some council members said the city needs to go out to bid early next fiscal year to consider finding a new company to handle waste collection.
Councilman Luis Velez said Roselle employs many Paterson residents. He said when a new firm is considered to make sure it employs residents.
Municipal officials also awarded two other waste contracts. Both were 90-day extensions to existing contracts.
Coastal Distribution of Paterson received a $139,807 contract for solid waste disposal. The firm charges $74.43 per ton.
Covanta of Morristown received a $1.4 million contract. It charges 71.19 per ton of solid waste, according to municipal records.
The 90-day extensions for Coastal Distribution and Covanta run from August 1 through October 29, 2020.
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