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1. What is the change, and when is it happening?

The city’s current residential curbside waste contract with Waste Management expires at the end of March 2021, so in 2020 we worked through the process of seeking proposals for that service. Waste Management and Republic Services submitted proposals, and Republic was the lowest responsive, responsible bid. Staff recommended Republic to the City Commission, and the commission approved the new contract at their Dec. 15, 2020 regular meeting.

Service with Republic begins in the city on April 1, 2021.

2. What are the services Republic will provide?

Services with Republic will be mostly the same as those living in the city have now:

• Weekly, unlimited curbside trash pickup. You may use your own containers, or rent a trash cart from Republic.
• Weekly, unlimited curbside bulk waste pickup. You must bag mattresses and box springs. No commercial, construction, or tire waste.
• Weekly, unlimited curbside yard waste pickup from April to December. You can use your own containers and/or paper yard waste bags, or rent a yard waste cart from Republic.
• Every-other-week curbside recycling. You must opt in, telling Republic you wish to recycle. If you do this, you will receive one recycling cart from Republic, at no charge. Please visit our website to learn more and opt in (or see additional FAQs here) - battlecreekmi.gov/recycling.
• Backyard service
• Spring and Fall cleanup collections, allowing curbside pickup of construction waste.
• Live/fresh holiday tree pickup after Christmas.

3. How much will service cost, and how do we pay?

City customers will pay their Republic service bill as part of the monthly utility bill, as you do now. If you choose to rent trash or yard waste carts from Republic, that will be a separate bill, directly from Republic, also as happens now.

The contract with Republic is for five years, with possible extensions. The costs are as follows.

Year	Curbside Regular  (per month)	Backyard Regular  (per month)	Curbside Discount  (per month)	Backyard Discount (per month)
April 2021-June 2022	$19.67	$30.53	$12.51	$19.39
July 2022-June 2023	$20.55	$31.90	$13.08	$20.26
July 2023-June 2024	$21.48	$33.33	$13.66	$21.18
July 2024-June 2025	$22.34	$34.67	$14.21	$22.02
July 2025-June 2026	$23.25	$36.09	$14.79	$22.93

As of January 2021, city customers pay $19 per month for curbside regular service. Rates typically have increased once each year, as part of each contract. Both service proposals the city received for the new contract showed cost increases.

If you do not already receive the senior/handicapped service discount you can apply with the form at this page: Click here to access the Elderly/Handicapped Discount form.

4. How do I sign up for backyard service, or the senior/handicapped discount?

If you already receive backyard service, or have a senior/handicapped discount, those will remain in place when we transition to Republic service.

Click this link to access the forms to apply for these services, if you do not have them and would like them. For backyard service, choose Optional Service Selection-Garbage, and for the discount, choose Request for Elderly/Handicapped Discount.

For more information, please call our Utility Billing team at 269-966-3366.

5. Will I have the same pickup day that I have now?

Republic is working now (January 2021) to determine the best routes, for the best service in the city. They will also determine recycling routes, once we know which neighbors wish to opt into that service.

With these factors in mind, it is possible your trash and recycling pick-up days will change, and it is possible your trash and recycling will be collected on different days.

Please stay tuned. We will share more information, calendars, and maps once this information is finalized.

6. What carts/containers can I use at the curb?

Trash - You can use your own containers or trash bags at the curb, or you can rent a cart from Republic.

Recycling - If you choose to recycle, you will receive one recycling cart from Republic at no extra charge. You can rent an additional cart from Republic, if you wish.

Yard waste - You can use your own containers (marked with stickers available in the city Utility Billing and Public Works offices) or paper yard waste bags, or you can rent a cart from Republic.

To rent one or more carts - Please call Republic at 888-249-5112. The cost to rent carts is $39 per year for the first cart, and $30 per year, apiece, for each additional cart.

7. How do we tell Republic we want to recycle?

As soon as possible, please do one of the following:

• Complete this simple web form (our preferred method) - click here to access the web form
  • This form also allows you to indicate if you would like to rent a trash and/or yard waste cart from Republic. This will be a separate bill, directly from Republic.
• Call Republic - 269-216-8008. Please leave a message with your name, address, phone number, and email address.
• Email Republic - BCrecycles@republicservices.com

If you call or email, please give your name, address, phone number, and email address. You can also say if you would like to rent a trash and/or yard waste cart from Republic. When you take this step to opt into recycling, Republic will bring a recycling cart to your home before the April 1 service start. There is no extra cost for the recycling cart.

8. What can I recycle in the curbside cart?

Check out this image to learn what you can recycle in the Republic curbside cart. Like we have now, this is a single-stream cart, so you will place all items in the cart, loose and together.

What can I recycle? Que puedo reciclar?

9. Does Republic have a drop-off recycling location?

Yes, Republic has recycling drop-off centers in Kalamazoo and Marshall, which accept the same items you can place in the curbside cart.

There will be a small fee to use these centers, for anyone who does not recycle at the curbside. If you opt into curbside recycling, you can use the centers at no extra cost.

10. Why can't I choose/hire my own waste hauler?

The main reason for the city contracting with one hauler is to limit the wear and tear on our streets, and limit the large truck traffic in the neighborhoods. There are more than 16,000 households receiving service, so it requires many fewer trucks when we stick with one hauler.

11. What was the price difference in the two service proposals the city received?

Republic Services and Waste Management submitted proposals, with a difference of $6 million between the two, over the contract time.

The price difference is less stark when we look at it on a per-household basis, and when we look at the percent increase per year. The price the city paid in late 2020, at the time of the new contract approval, was much less than either new proposal.

-The current contract price we pay Waste Management is $14.45 per household
-Republic proposed $19.24 per household, with increases each year
-Waste Management proposed $20.20 per household, with increases each year

Along with the other calculations Republic made to propose that price per household, note that they have a Calhoun County facility, and don’t have to transport waste a great distance, which saves time and money.

12. Did the city consider alternatives to unlimited trash pickup?

Yes. We asked those submitting proposals to include pricing for unlimited curbside trash pickup, which the city has now, as well as recommendations for service changes that could reduce costs, improve operation efficiency, and be more environmentally friendly. The city would work with the City Commission and the community on such changes, and we believe a change to our ordinance would be helpful. We did not have time to move that along before the current contract expires, but have plans to do so during 2021.

At the time of the new contract, we will continue to have unlimited curbside trash pickup.

13. Didn't the city use Republic in the past for commercial pick-up, with a bad experience?

The city did use Republic for service at city-owned parks and buildings, and we had an issue with incorrect billing. That was over five years ago, and Republic has since changed their software. We don’t think this will be a problem.

14. What should I do with my Waste Management carts?

The city is working with both Waste Management and Republic to coordinate WM pickup of their recycling and rental trash/yard waste carts, and delivery of any Republic carts to your homes. We hope to do this in a way that keeps service running smoothly, as we transition. 

Please stayed tuned for more specific information as we know it, and get closer to the switch (April 1).

15. How do I contact Republic for a missed pick-up, or other service needs?

Call Republic at 269-216-8008.

Email Republic at BCrecycles@republicservices.com.