The Bayonne City Council approved a $3.3 million one-year contract extension with A&L Disposal at its reorganization meeting on January 3, 2025.
However, the decision has sparked discussions about service quality, rising costs, and the transparency of the city’s waste management contracts.
- Bayonne City Council approved a $3.3 million, one-year extension for trash and recycling services with A&L Disposal, saying it was a good deal compared to rising costs in the area.
- Former Council President Sharon Ashe-Nadrowski raised concerns about delays, possible favoritism, and some unresolved service issues.
- City officials said the renewal saved the city $10 million compared to older contracts and improved service.
Details of the Contract Extension
The extended contract allocates $1.96 million for trash collection and $1.37 million for recycling services.
It will be the second one-year extension under the original agreement signed with A&L Disposal in 2021.
Each annual renewal adds $100,000 to the total cost, which city officials believe is reasonable compared to the rising waste management costs in neighboring areas.
Officials explained that rebidding the contract at this time could have resulted in much higher costs.
Bayonne’s Director of Public Works noted that the volume of trash has grown significantly, driving up expenses for waste management services throughout the region.
Delays and Questions About Transparency
The contract renewal process faced delays, which raised concerns among residents and officials.
The council had previously scheduled a vote on the contract extension two months earlier, but it was removed from the agenda without explanation.
During the holiday season, waste collection services were disrupted, including missed recycling pickups and the city using its own trucks for trash collection.
Although these issues were resolved quickly, they added to frustrations about how waste management is being handled.
Critics questioned why the city didn’t explore other options by opening the contract to competitive bids.
Some felt this would have provided an opportunity to evaluate whether better services or lower costs were available.
A&L Disposal’s Service History
A&L Disposal has held Bayonne’s waste management contract since 2021.
Their initial bid was significantly lower than the previous contractor, Suburban Disposal, saving the city over $10 million.
Nonetheless, concerns were raised about the company’s ties to city officials.
A&L Disposal’s owner, a Bayonne resident, has made charitable contributions totaling $179,000 to local police and fire departments.
While these donations were legal, some felt they created an appearance of favoritism.
City officials clarified that a notable donation of over $64,000 to the city’s emergency management office was rescinded before A&L was awarded its first contract.
Preparing for Future Contracts
In addition to extending the current contract, the council passed a resolution to begin bidding for a new waste management contract well before the current extension expires.
The purpose is to give the city enough time to review competitive proposals and ensure transparency in the selection process.
Public council members expect to have more information on potential bidders by March 2025, allowing them to better evaluate costs and service quality for the next contract period.
For now, Bayonne residents can expect continued trash and recycling services under A&L Disposal, with hopes for smoother operations in the year to come.
