The large turnout at the pre-bid meeting for the city’s trash and recycling contract is confirmation that the extensive and lengthy process the city used to develop bid specifications was constructive. The large number of potential bidders also bodes well for residents. Strong competition for the city’s garbage and recycling services makes it more likely residents will get responsive services at an economical price.

“I think competition is extremely valuable,” said Councilwoman Karen Goldner, who sat on the trash contract committee. “We have a free market for a reason, and it’s because it tends to give us really good results as far as procurement.”

Twelve companies attended the mandatory pre-bid meeting for companies interested in bidding on all or part of the $8 million worth of garbage and recycling collection work.

She rightly thinks that the committee’s suggestion to “unbundle” the contract helped to attract more bidders. Companies can bid on all or part of the work available. And the city can mix and match service providers to get the best price for collecting and disposing of garbage and recycling.

The change “lets us provide a more level playing field given the solid waste infrastructure we have in place in Allen County,” she said.

National Serv-all, the company that currently has the city trash contract, owns the local landfill, giving the company an advantage when it comes to landfill disposal costs.

Splitting up the contract may mean that city officials and residents have more than one vendor to deal with, but it should ensure the city gets the best price. It may open the door for smaller vendors to have an opportunity to compete for the business. Any successful bidder will have to prove financial stability and demonstrate the ability to handle the work.

Another welcome outcome from the bidding process should be improved recycling service. The city is leaning heavily toward accepting more items for recycling and using a single recycling container. Residents would give up their two color-coded recycling bins for a larger wheeled cart.

Single-stream recycling is easier for most residents because they can wheel the cart to the curb rather than having to carry the heavy bins. The lidded carts also keep recycling items from getting wet or blowing away.

New Haven recently converted to single-stream recycling and “so far it’s been pretty popular,” Mayor Terry McDonald said. New Haven’s contract calls for the city’s recycling rate to decrease from $3.50 per home per month to $1.75 if the city can get 30 percent of its garbage customers to participate. He said the city is seeing an increase in recycling participation.

“I don’t know how long it will take, but I certainly hope we will get to that point. It’s an incentive for people to talk to their friends and neighbors and get them to participate,” he said.

“The more people who participate, the better it is for everybody,” he said.

Unfortunately, Fort Wayne’s recycling participation has declined in recent years. The proposed changes to the recycling portion of the contract are needed to not only increase the number of household in Fort Wayne that recycle but also to increase the amount each household recycles.

The trash committee should be pleased with the results of its work.