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Trash Franchise Information
Contracts & Services
Since 2009 the City has contracted with Waste Connections of Kansas, Inc. (WCI) for residential trash and recycling services. This assists in meeting City goals and has:
- Provided equitable rates and customer service throughout Derby
- Enhanced and expanded services
- Increased Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) diversion through recycling
- Established contractor accountability
Highlights of the current Waste Connections Contract
- $51.87/quarter for 95-gallon cart, with up to 10 extra bags free
- $45.75/quarter for 65-gallon cart, plus $1.50 per extra bag
- $39.63/quarter for 35-gallon cart, plus $1.50 per extra bag
- Annual increases set at 2% throughout contract term
Highlights of Services
- Two free coupons can be used each year for either two bulky item pickups or one bulky item and one pickup truck load taken to the Waste Connections Transfer Station.
- Single-stream recycling with biweekly pickup of recyclable items. Do not try to recycle Styrofoam, plastic bags, greasy pizza boxes, unlabeled plastics, trash, or items not on the list.
- Free carry-out service for disabled and those ages 65 and older (take your driver's license to City Hall at 611 N. Mulberry to be scanned and sent to Waste Connections).
- Discounted rates for small businesses, community parades, festivals and park events.
- Free service for City-owned facilities.
Trash Franchise History in the City of Derby
Origin
As the governing authority over solid waste, the Board of Sedgwick County Commissioners decided in 2008 that all the cities in the county should issue a trash franchise and offer curbside recycling. The trash franchise should include an option for at least two sizes of trash carts, with the smaller one offered at a lower cost.
On October 27, 2009, the City of Derby passed Ordinance No. 1997 regulating solid waste and establishing exclusive collection in the City of Derby. The City also passed Resolution No. 26-2009 establishing a Trash Franchise Fee.
A Volume-Based System
Such a “volume-based” or “pay-as-you-throw” system is used in many communities to ensure that those who produce the most trash also pay the most. Conversely, those who produce little - either because they have fewer people in their household or they recycle more or they just don’t produce much trash - pay less.
Trash Rates
In 2009, the City of Derby issued an RFP for Residential Solid Waste and Recyclables Collection and Transportation Service. Before the exclusive contract with Waste Connections Inc. went into effect on Dec, 1, 2009, trash bills paid by Derby homeowners varied widely because the industry was unregulated. Some people paid $65 - $82 per quarter (three months), even though many homeowner associations had deals with trash companies for rates more around the $45 - $50 range.
Efficient Trash Pickup
Such variation in rates is testament to the efficiency to be gained from authorizing only one truck to serve any given street on only one day of the week. The driver picks up more trash per hour than in the previous system of driving all over town to serve only certain households, skipping those served by other companies.
Reduced Impact
Reduced truck traffic is good for street maintenance, noise and air pollution, and general tidiness of neighborhoods (all trash carts at the curb on one day rather than some on each of several days of the week). See the Effect on Pavement Information.
Current Contract
In Fall 2020 the City issued an RFP for residential trash and recycling services and received two proposals, from Waste Connections and Waste Management. On May 25, 2021, the City Council approved a new five-year contract with Waste Connections that maintains the scope of services and many key program features, such as three cart size options and two free annual bulky waste services. This contract went into effect January 1, 2022.
A key program change is that residents who repeatedly put non-recyclable items in their recycling carts will receive two warning notifications advising them of the contamination. If contamination continues, the cart may be removed and a $25 removal fee will be assessed. This helps maximize the ability to recycle what is collected and prevents widespread contamination of Derby's recycling stream by a few trash-filled carts.
The contract can be reviewed in its entirety here.