Waste Pro Bid Upheld by Town

Town Council voted 5-2 to proceed with a new solid waste contract between Summerville and Waste Pro on Wednesday during a special meeting of council at the .

Council members Kima Garten-Schmidt and Bob Jackson opposed moving forward. During the August council meeting, when , Garten-Schmidt voted against the contract, but Jackson voted in favor of the contract.

Garten-Schmidt voted against awarding the bid in August due to her "many questions." 

For Jackson, the issue of recycling container size made him reverse his decision, he said during a Friday morning interview. 

"We wanted the roll-out containers," Jackson said. Instead, Waste Pro will be using 18-gallon carry containers. Each household is issued one, but the company has said the households can pick up more if necessary.

But it's a matter of convenience for the councilman.

"I don't think it's good to spend money on enhanced recycling if the containers are difficult to use," Jackson said.

According to discussion during the public works committee on Aug. 3 and the regular council meeting on Aug. 10, Waste Pro was the lowest of three bidders that offered a recycling rewards program. The bid could save the town $150,000 per year, according to Councilman and Mayor Pro Tem Terry Jenkins. 

Summerville will also become the location for Waste Pro in the Charleston region. 

Wednesday's special meeting had a public hearing, where council heard from representatives of Suburban Waste Services, which currently holds the solid waste contract and had appealed the town's decision.

If Suburban does not take the measure to Circuit Court, the town will see solid waste services from Waste Pro starting Jan. 1.