St. Louis County Council Delays Vote on Waste Hauler Contract Extension

The St. Louis County Council has postponed a decision on a bill that would extend the length of contracts with its waste haulers from three to five years.

St. Louis County handles trash removal in unincorporated areas surrounding Manchester and Town and Country such as the area near and including Queeny Park and just south of Manchester and Big Bend Road. 

At Tuesday’s meeting, Second District Councilwoman Kathleen Kelly Burkett requested that the measure be placed on hold until all members of the council were present to vote on it. Fourth District Councilman Michael O’Mara, the bill’s sponsor, was absent from the meeting.

Last week, the council gave the bill tentative approval on a 4-to-3 vote. Council members Colleen Wasinger, Third District, Steve Stenger, Sixth District, and Greg Quinn, Seventh District, cast the opposing votes.

The bill would regulate trash contracts for waste haulers in the unincorporated parts of St. Louis County.

Stenger said he voted against the measure because it would make it difficult for smaller haulers to compete.

Meanwhile, others say longer contracts would result in better pricing and save residents money.

“If gas prices keep going up like they are, it would be beneficial for us to lock in rates,” Burkett said in an interview. “I can’t imagine it not being beneficial.”

 In 2008, the county established eight trash districts as part of its waste management code. The creation of the districts provided for unified waste collection, recycling and bulky trash pickup services for residents and enabled the county to negotiate contracts with haulers.

Controversy followed the change and sparked a number of lawsuits from both residents opposed to the county choosing their hauler and from hauling companies that bid on, but did not receive contracts from the county.

Allied Waste and IESI provide collection services for about 80,000 households in unincorporated St. Louis County. The current hauling contracts will end Sept. 30.

The council's next meeting is scheduled for March 22.