(4/25) The Council approved a new contract for collection of solid waste and bulk trash, accepting Ecology Services Refuse and Recycling’s total bid of $331,898 for a two-year contract to begin May 1. The motion to approve the bid passed 5-0.
Ecology Services, located in Columbia, Md., will charge the Town $163,900 for the first year of services and $167,998 in the second year, with an option for renewal. The contract includes all necessary labor, materials and equipment and the performance of all work for two years. The scope of work includes weekly trash collection for all residences and four bulk trash pickups each year.
This contract is a decrease from 2024, when the services cost $177,269. The proposed decrease is due to a decrease in fuel costs. "They said they could have just passed that on to us, but they felt like they should give us that reduction," Town Manager Jim Humerick said. Mayor John Kinnaird said this action was "very commendable" on Ecology Services’ part.
The Town also received a bid from J&J Trash Services for $362,866.56 total, the first year costing $178,752 and the second $184,114.56. Humerick recommended Ecology Services because they presented a lower bid and had already provided three years of satisfactory service to the Town. "We still have some minor issues that we deal with from time-to-time," he said before explaining to the Council that most issues are due to the high turnover in the waste industry. He explained that the Town receives a new team, often after the previous team began to understand Thurmont’s needs.
Kinnaird confirmed with Humerick that residents can use the same customer service telephone line for Ecology Services as in years past if they should have any issues with their trash collection.
"The trash business doesn’t seem to be as robust as it was a many years ago, but there’s still plenty of trash to be picked up," Kinnaird said.
Ecology Services also provides recycling collection for Frederick County, including Thurmont. However, recycling services are not included in this contract because it’s a county-paid service, not paid for by the Town of Thurmont.
