Republic Services in Fort Collins extends deadline select carts - Coloradoan

Republic Services in Fort Collins extends deadline select carts

It's your last chance to select Fort Collins' citywide trash service or opt out
Rebecca Powell

Time is running out for Fort Collins residents to decide which level of trash service they want under the new citywide hauling contract with Republic Services that starts Sept. 30.

A deadline for selecting carts, which determines the price of service, has been extended to June 14.

Around 25% of eligible households haven't signed up for carts or opted out of the service, Kim Palmer, Republic's municipal relationship manager, told the Coloradoan.

Residents who opt out of Republic's service will still pay a $11.10 fee.

Palmer said 9,000 households have not yet signed up. The original deadline to sign up was April 30, but Republic later extended it to June 2 and then to June 14.

Sign up at the Republic Services of Fort Collins website.

Why is Fort Collins doing a citywide contract?

In April 2023, the city signed a contract authorizing Republic to be the designated trash hauler for city residents.

City Council identified this as a priority in 2021, citing the noise, emissions and wear-and-tear impacts of multiple waste trucks traveling on streets multiple days a week. They cited benefits that included an expected increase in yard clippings recycling, predictable pricing and more services at a similar cost.

When City Council approved the contract, it was estimated it would apply to about 20% of revenues in the city's waste market.

The big trash FAQ: Wondering what Fort Collins' proposed contract with Republic promises? Here's what to know

Does this contract apply to me? Do I need to sign up?

Any Fort Collins residence that contains seven units or fewer is covered by the agreement — that means single-family homes, duplexes, townhomes, mobile home parks, and small condos or apartment complexes of seven units or less.

However, if your neighborhood is part of a homeowners association, you may or may not be covered: HOAs that had written trash and recycling contracts prior to April 28, 2023, were given a chance to opt out so they could continue with their existing contracts, but the deadline to do so has passed now.

Any HOA contract must include the option for yard-waste pickup.

Check with your HOA to find out about your status.

What happens if I don't select any carts?

Residents who are Republic customers now will receive default sizes if they don't select their cart size, which determines the price paid.

But residents who are not currently Republic customers won't receive any carts and won't have Republic service if they don't sign up. They will still be billed the opt-out fee of $11.10 by Republic.

What are the trash cart sizes and costs?

Five carts are available, with prices published on the city's website:

- A 35-gallon cart with service every other week for $11.10 a month.
- A 35-gallon cart with weekly service for $19.10 a month.
- A 65-gallon cart with weekly service for $37.10 a month.
- A 95-gallon cart with weekly service for $55.10 a month.
- Two 95-gallon carts with weekly service for $109.10 a month.

In addition to the trash carts, residents will receive bins for recycling and yard scraps. Both of those services are included in the price of the trash service.

Residents can opt for different cart sizes for yard and recycling carts, and they can request an additional 95-gallon recycle cart.

Customers can opt out of the yard trimmings bin and save $5 per month, as long as they've selected a trash cart with weekly service. Otherwise, they can opt out of yard trimmings but won't receive the discount.

Finally, the new service allows residents to schedule bulky item pickup twice a year for no extra charge.

Can I opt out of this service?

Those who want to opt out of service with Republic will be able to do so by submitting a form and paying a monthly fee of $11.10.

Those residents can choose another hauler that complies with the city's requirements, or they can haul their own trash to the landfill.

Residents can also apply for a variance and not be charged the fee if they have large amounts of trash that exceed services offered or if they share a cart with another household.

What might cost increases look like in the future?

Under the contract, Republic can raise prices annually by 3% per year, starting after the first year of the current contract, which is in effect for five years. They can also negotiate with the city for higher increases due to “uncontrollable costs limited to disposal or processing tip fee increases or changes.”

In documents provided to City Council at the time of consideration, the city noted that customers across the city were being charged different prices for the same cart size.

"Some are paying $6 to $22 more per month (sometimes twice the price) than others for the same service. Prices are even different from the same company in the same area of town," a report said.

The city's waste haulers also have raised their prices in the past two years. The city's analysis showed that across all haulers, prices increased anywhere from 2% to 40%.

Get more information

The city has posted a detailed FAQ on its Contracted Residential Trash and Recycling Collection website.