California’s waste management regulations are constantly evolving and complying with them makes solid waste collection services increasingly complex. Sonoma County Resource Recovery has invested heavily to meet state mandates while striving to make waste collection as environmentally friendly as possible. These investments significantly exceed those made by previous waste management service providers in Windsor. Measure Q presents a timely opportunity to leverage these efforts, giving the City Council the flexibility to choose the best contractor at the most competitive price in future years.

Since the waste collection ordinance was passed by Windsor voters in 1996, the city has experienced considerable growth and development. Back then, Town Green, Windsor High School, Ventana, Vintage Greens and the Walmart mall did not exist. Waste collection practices were radically different, with residents sorting paper, glass, aluminum and plastic into separate bins, and composting was a relatively new concept. Ten years ago, there was no alternative to traditional landfill disposal.

Fast forward to 2024, and Windsor has made significant progress, both in terms of community development and waste management practices. The city is working toward a more sustainable future by diverting more waste from landfills. However, new challenges have emerged, including stricter regulations on recyclable materials and higher costs for waste haulers to comply with changing environmental laws.

Measure Q, which will appear on the November 5 ballot, provides an opportunity to modernize Windsor’s waste management practices. The city attorney’s nonpartisan analysis explains that the measure proposes two key changes: removing the 10-year limit on franchise agreements and allowing the council to decide whether to use a competitive bidding process when selecting a waste management service provider.

This flexibility is essential for several reasons. The request for proposals process, used to obtain waste collection contracts, is expensive, costing taxpayers more than $500,000 each time, a cost that is ultimately passed on to taxpayers. It also places a heavy burden on municipal staff. Repeating this process multiple times could cause rates to increase significantly – potentially by 30 to 40 percent or more – especially if a new waste hauler is chosen.

Measure Q provides the City Council with the flexibility to negotiate longer-term contracts while maintaining competitive bidding, creating a win-win situation for taxpayers and service providers. Contrary to concerns, this is not a ploy to obtain permanent contracts. Instead, it allows council, charged by the community, to make informed decisions that best serve Windsor’s future, including environmentally friendly innovations like greener garbage trucks and recycling at single flow.

Vote yes on Measure Q to give Windsor the flexibility to maintain stable rates and quality service.

Bruce Okrepkie is a former member of Windsor City Council.

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