(April 3, 2017) – Citizen Outreach delivered today a citizens’ petition to the Las Vegas Mayor and City Council urging council members to issue an RFP (request for proposals) on the proposed contract extension for Republic Services.
The “Give Me Choice” petition is signed by over 850 individuals who want to see the franchise agreement for residential and commercial trash collection in the city – which could be worth almost $1 BILLION over the life of the contract – opened to competitive bidding.
“Supporters of the-way-we’ve-always-done-things continue to claim no one but Republic Services can provide trash collection services as well as or as economically as Republic Services,” said Chuck Muth, president of Citizen Outreach. “But there’s no way to know that for sure unless the contract is put out for competitive bidding.”
Waste Management, the nation’s largest waste hauler, has indicated it would be interested in competing for this contract if the city council will allow it to submit a bid.
“Residents and consumers are seeing greater choices and better services for cheaper prices in markets ranging from transportation to communications to lodging and even electricity,” Muth continued. “There is no reason why trash collection should continue to be exempt from this demand for greater competition.”
The Nevada Legislature is presently considering a bill to open the waste hauling market, especially in recyclables, to more of Nevada’s small businesses and innovative start-ups.
“Competition is good,” Muth concluded. “Competitive bidding is good government. I hope the city council shows leadership in this matter and does the right thing by issuing an RFP instead of simply rubber-stamping yet another no bid contract extension for this monopoly franchise.”
The council is expected to consider the matter at its regular meeting on Wednesday.
The final “Give Me Choice” petition and list of signers can be accessed by clicking here
Citizen Outreach is a free-market grassroots advocacy organization
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