Wewa selects new solid waste services provider

After receiving several sealed bids and having them reviewed by city staff, the Wewahitchka commissioners selected a new company to perform the city’s garbage pickup during their Jan. 4 meeting.

Expressing concerns over communication issues and missed pickups with the city’s current solid waste services provider, commissioners opted to select a local company, Nate’s Sanitation out of Panama City.

“We felt that the Nate’s Sanitation proposal best addressed the needs of the citizens of the City of Wewahitchka as well as providing solutions for the issues we have with missed pickups and lack of effective communication with the current provider,” read city officials’ recommendation for the commissioners.

“The Nate’s Sanitation proposal states that they have automated cart routes and a GPS/Video system, which will cut down on missed pickups and ensure service is completed.”

The new service provider’s rates are slightly higher than those of the current solid waste company’s, with the monthly rate for residential 96-gallon carts rising from $15.69 to $15.90. They offer a discounted rate for seniors at $14.90.

Nate’s was not the cheapest bidder for the service, with Waste Pro, the city’s current provider, suggesting lowered rates around $15.35.

However, city officials recommended Nate’s over Waste Pro because of their commitment to being easily accessible if problems should arise. 

According to the Nate’s Sanitation website, “the company employs nearly 600 people, operates over 425 collection and support vehicles, and owns and/or operates 15 facilities in Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina, which include two transfer stations, nine maintenance and hauling facilities, and five material recovery facilities.”

The new contract, which will last for five years, takes effect in February.