Refuse contract with Allied Waste continued after labor and environmental concerns; committee asked for one‑week review

The Office of Contract Administration presented a recommended award of a citywide contract for refuse collection and disposal at city facilities to Allied Waste Services of North America LLC (initial seven‑year term with a possible three‑year extension). The contract would cover more than 380 city sites, include ancillary services and compactor leases, and has a projected 10‑year not‑to‑exceed total of approximately $119 million (presentation described a 7‑year NTE of $79.4M and a 10‑year projection including a 15% contingency).

Presenters described the procurement history, the conditional notice of intent to award issued in January 2023, the CEQA process, and a transition timeline intended to implement services between April and June 2024. OCA said the contract would not affect residential/commercial service provided by Recology under existing local exclusivity rules; this contract covers city facilities only.

Public comment raised several concerns. Evan Boyd, regional vice president for Recology San Francisco, asked the committee to reconsider the evaluation based on environmental impacts (truck routing between Half Moon Bay and Martinez) and employment implications for San Francisco workers. John Bouchard of Teamsters Local 350 and Joint Council 7 urged the Board to assess labor outcomes, noting that curbside recyclables are currently processed at Pier 96 by union members earning roughly $39 per hour with benefits, while the awardee would divert material to Newby Island in San Jose, where sorts are processed by non‑union workers at lower pay. Teamsters warned that national labor disputes at the awardee could create service disruptions or pickets that affect San Francisco operations.

After hearing public comment, Chair Chan said she wanted more time to review labor and local hire impacts and to receive additional details about transition contingency planning. Vice Chair Mandelmann supported a short continuance. The committee voted to continue the item to its March 6 meeting to allow staff to gather further information and respond to labor and environmental concerns.

Next steps: OCA will provide additional details on transition plans, contingency timing (the chair indicated April as a checkpoint) and permit status before the March 6 committee meeting; the item remains continued.