Residents File Petition Demanding City Drop Its New Trash Hauler

Outraged community members turned in more than 4,500 signatures Wednesday demanding that the City Council rescind its decision to hire a new trash-hauling company, Federal Disposal Service.

“This is a screaming testament to what the people are looking for,” said Tustin Ranch resident Elizabeth Nadon.

The council voted 3 to 2 on May 1 to award a $4.2-million contract to Federal Disposal, the lowest bidder, that will save residents and business owners $17.4 million during the seven-year period.

Foes want the city to reinstate Waste Management of Orange County, the trash hauler that has served the city for 30 years.

Waste Management employees and residents have been circulating petitions for the last two weeks.

Waste Management officials contend Federal Disposal was not the lowest responsible bidder. Federal Disposal’s bid was $500,000 lower than Waste Management’s but a city ordinance requires the council to choose the lowest responsible bidder--one capable of fulfilling the contract.

Hours before the council vote, city staff had recommended rejecting Federal’s low bid because the company did not have a site with permits to run the trash service and it lacked experience hauling residential and commercial trash.

The staff originally recommended the second-lowest bidder, Waste Management.

However, the staff changed its recommendation shortly before Monday’s council meeting, after officials at Federal promised to expand a site in Santa Ana to accommodate the workload.

City Manager Bill Huston said the city has 30 days to review the petition, and if it is considered valid, the issue will go before the City Council. The council could either rescind its decision or put the issue on the November ballot.

“The city has entered into a contract with Federal Disposal per the requirements of state law,” Huston said.

Don Shubin, president of Federal Disposal, said he would not be distracted by the petition drive and said the company is preparing to begin picking up trash in the city in October.

“We think this is an effort that solely benefits the interest of Waste Management and it does not benefit the residents or businesses,” Shubin said. “It thwarts the competitive process that has occurred in the city.”

Councilwoman Tracy Wills Worley, who voted against the contract because she wanted to review the last-minute change in the staff recommendation, commended the citizens who signed the petition.

” It’s obvious that a lot of residents feel strongly about this,” Worley said.” I have my doubts that Federal is qualified, and I think the residents of Tustin should not have to be guinea pigs for a company that has never hauled residential trash.”

Marissa Espino can be reached at (714) 966-5879