Residential Household Garbage and Recyclable Materials Collection and Delivery Services

Alamance County, North Carolina, Purchasing Department is requesting proposals for residential household garbage and recyclable materials collection and delivery services under an exclusive five-year franchise with one optional three-year renewal, with proposals due August 31, 2026 at 2:00 PM to the County Purchasing Office in Graham, NC.

The service encompasses three defined geographic areas within unincorporated Alamance County covering approximately 37,621 residential units and a population of 109,852 (2025 estimates). The franchisee must provide weekly curbside collection of household garbage as defined by the Alamance County Solid Waste Ordinance (November 7, 2022) and biweekly curbside collection of target recyclables as defined by the Alamance County Recycling Ordinance (November 7, 2022). The contractor must supply garbage and recycling containers, public education materials, and a calendar of scheduled pickups to each customer. All operating costs — including insurance, equipment, tipping fees, materials, and labor — are to be included in pricing; fuel surcharges are prohibited.

Pricing shall be submitted as a monthly rate per residential unit in both written words and numeric figures. The county will not entertain fee increases during the first two years; beginning January 1, 2029, the franchisee may request annual cost-of-living adjustments based on the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) Water and Sewer and Trash Index if increases exceed five percent, plus additional increases up to ten percent proportional to Alamance County Landfill tipping fee increases approved by the Board of Commissioners.

The franchisee must maintain a North Carolina office, handle customer complaints within 24 hours, submit quarterly customer service reports and annual subscriber lists to the Solid Waste Director, and maintain Commercial General Liability of $1,000,000 per occurrence/$2,000,000 aggregate, Commercial Auto Liability of $1,000,000 per occurrence, and Workers Compensation at statutory limits. A performance bond of $500,000 is required before commencement. Liquidated damages range from $200 per valid missed collection (1–10 misses monthly) to $5,000 monthly for service failures exceeding 200 misses. The franchise becomes effective January 1, 2027, following Board of County Commissioners approval at two separate regular meetings. Proposals must be submitted in original plus two copies and one electronic copy on a thumb drive.