Title
Contract Agreement for Mecklenburg County Solid Waste Recycling Processing
Action
ACTION:
Authorize the County Manager, or her designee, to negotiate and execute contracts with Balcones Recycling for multi-year contracts to:
1) Operate, maintain and process various recyclables at the County’s Interim/C&D Debris Material Recycling Facility (MRF) and the Metrolina Materials Recycling Facility (MRF).
2) Assist the County by enhancing recycled material recovery at County solid waste facilities.
3) Market and sell recycled materials from these efforts.
Staff Contact: Jeffrey M. Smithberger, Director, Solid Waste, LUESA
Presentation: No
BACKGROUND/JUSTIFICATION:
Mecklenburg County owns a Material Recovery Facility (MRF) located on Amble Drive, as well as many recycling collections centers across the County. The County is also in the process of building a new Interim MRF on Pence Road. Mecklenburg County is responsible for accepting and processing recyclables into saleable products that are marketed broadly for re-use.
The existing contract to process and market recycled materials expires when the Interim MRF will open, anticipated in March 2025. To facilitate the continued and uninterrupted processing of recyclables, the County issued a Request for Proposal (RFP) to solicit firms to operate the MRF systems and market the recovered recyclables. County staff received Requests for Proposals (RFP) on June 14, 2024 from interested parties to operate the Interim/C&D MRF and the Metrolina MRF and to sell recyclables for the County.
The Waste Management Advisory Board (WMAB) was represented on the Selection Advisory Committee (SAC) by Mr. Chris Brown, WMAB Chair, who attended all RFP related meetings. Mecklenburg County also retained the outside firm of Geosyntec to review the background financials of all firms.
Two firms submitted proposals: They were FCR, LLC a Republic Services (Phoenix, AZ) company, and Balcones Recycling (Austin, TX). In person interviews were conducted with each firm meeting with the SAC. The SAC unanimously chose Balcones Recycling to provide recycling processing services for, the operation and maintenance of the Interim/C&D Debris MRF and the Metrolina MRF. Balcones will also market and sell recovered recyclables and assist with enhancing recycling by working with staff on adding new material types. Balcones Recycling has demonstrated historical operating experience in the operation and start-up at other MRF facilities across the US.
The Waste Management Advisory Board has been kept apprised of the RFP process and will continue to be involved as contracts are negotiated.
Business Diversity and Inclusion has reviewed the submittal and Balcones has pledged to meet the MWBE Achievement Goals of 11% MBE and 4% WBE. The full scope of MWBE requirements will be established during contract finalization.
PROCUREMENT BACKGROUND:
Solicitation #487-MRF Operations 2025 was issued in April 2024 and proposals received on June 11, 2024.
POLICY IMPACT:
The County is under contractual obligation to maintain a comprehensive system for the processing of recyclables for the City of Charlotte, Towns and other partners.
FISCAL IMPACT:
Funds are budgeted in the Solid Waste Enterprise Fund. No impact on County funding.