MONTAGUE — Amid ongoing issues with Republic Services’ waste collection, the Selectboard voted Monday to enter into a contract with Casella Waste Systems for trash and recycling pickup.

According to Town Administrator Steve Ellis, the town went “above and beyond what we normally would be required to do for a trash and recycling disposal contract” to procure bids from companies looking to enter a three-year agreement. The town received bids from the incumbent Republic Services, Casella Waste Systems and USA Waste & Recycling last month before having “fairly extensive” conversations with each company.

Considering the community’s dissatisfaction with Republic Services’ lack of consistency collecting trash and recycling on time, the Selectboard unanimously decided that contracting with Casella would be the most advantageous option, despite its services being more expensive.

“I know it’s a lot of money, but I just don’t have a lot of confidence that it’s ever going to get any better,” Selectboard Chair Rich Kuklewicz reasoned. “That said, I don’t know that it’s going to be better with the next guy either. It’s the devil you know and the devil you don’t.”

Ellis and the Selectboard have maintained steady communication with Republic Services since June 2022, when Municipal Sales Manager Tyler Finnegan addressed concerns at a board meeting. At the time, Finnegan provided a verbal commitment to improve services after numerous missed pickups.

Since then, Republic Services representatives have made efforts to improve internal communication, service the town with new trucks and provide residents with an app that enables a user to report missed pickups. Issues have persisted, however, with rounds of complaints being called in from residents as recently as this past weekend, according to Jan Ameen, executive director of the Franklin County Solid Waste Management District.

“I’ve really had it with Republic Services,” Kuklewicz said. “I’ve had it with the excuses and the storytelling. The proof is in the pudding, and I haven’t seen very good pudding lately.”

Casella Waste Systems is a relative newcomer to the area in terms of collection services, Ameen said. The company listed Worcester, Sterling and Holden as references and expanded into western Massachusetts last year by contracting with East Longmeadow. The company also has a transfer station in Holyoke, where Montague Health Director Ryan Paxton served on the Board of Health. Paxton noted that the Holyoke Board of Health “was quite satisfied with their performance.”

“I’m confident that Casella can do the work,” Ameen commented. “They’re one of the largest recycling companies and trash hauling companies in the country.”

Casella’s work in Montague, which will begin after Republic Services’ contract expires on June 30, 2024, will span fiscal years 2025 through 2027. Service with Casella will cost $637,100 in the first contract year, $668,955 in the second year and $702,402 in the third year. By comparison, Republic Services charged Montague about $480,000 for service in fiscal year 2023, according to Ellis, but proposed a new contract quoted at $586,700 in the first year, $621,902 in the second year and $659,213 in the third year.

“As you look at the contract, if this was a standard procurement and there hadn’t been any issues with an incumbent vendor,” Ellis said, “it would be a fairly obvious choice which one is the better value proposition.”

Ellis said he hopes to have a contract ready to present to the Selectboard for signing by the board’s July 24 meeting.

Reach Julian Mendoza at 413-930-4231 or jmendoza@recorder.com.

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