Fort Wayne’s careful financial planning has put it in a position for growth and success, according to its chief executive.FORT WAYNE – Fort Wayne took its first official step Wednesday toward completing a trash and recycling contract that officials say will lower residents’ monthly bills.
The Board of Public Works approved the contracts with National Serv-All that will have the company collect and dispose of the city’s trash and recyclable materials for at least seven years.
Matt Gratz, city solid waste manager, said the city’s efforts to increase competition for the contracts was a success, as the service in 2011 will cost $300,000 less than this year.
“We did get a great response from all the bidders,” said Gina Kostoff, chairwoman of the board of works.
In addition, Gratz said the recycling contract includes revenue sharing for the first time, which will provide the city with half the net proceeds from the sale of its recycled materials.
Based on current rates and amounts, he said that would be about $130,000 a year.
Gratz said the contracts are also expected to improve recycling participation by providing a single bin for residents to discard glass, metal and paper waste.
This change also can help keep neighborhoods cleaner because the larger bins have lids and can be collected in alleys. Therefore, residents with alley collection won’t have to put their recycling on the curb, Gratz said.
The board’s approval is the first step for the nearly $8 million contract, which likely will be introduced to the City Council next week and approved next month.
City officials have not yet said how much the contract will reduce residents’ $11.24 monthly bill.
The new contract is expected to start in January.
