Council amends Waste Management contract, removes proposed five‑year extension pending bid process

Council considered an amendment to the Waste Management, Inc. contract that would adjust service terms, a four-day pickup schedule and other operational items. Sponsor and committee materials recommended approval as amended.

Council Member Parker moved an amendment to delete a five-year contract-extension and a roughly $60 million scope increase and instead send the item to competitive bid, arguing Metro’s new Solid Waste department and the director should lead a procurement to secure the best value for taxpayers. Several members, including Council Members Porterfield and Gad, supported Parker’s approach and applauded newly professionalized department leadership for scrutinizing vendor performance.

The council approved the amendment and then approved the contract as amended; the department will pursue procurement and transition steps consistent with the amended authorization.