The City of El Cerrito has maintained a longstanding partnership with East Bay Sanitary Company for waste management services since 1941. While this enduring relationship has provided stability, the absence of competitive bidding in contract renewals raises concerns about cost efficiency and service quality.
Rising Costs for Residents
Over the years, residents have experienced consistent increases in garbage collection rates. The table below illustrates the escalation in monthly rates for a standard 35-gallon cart:
| Year | Collection Fee | Post-Collection Fee | Integrated Waste Management (IWM) Fee | Total Monthly Rate |
| 2023 | $31.80 | $10.68 | $22.85 | $65.33 |
| 2024 | $32.91 | $11.15 | $23.86 | $67.92 |
| 2025 | $36.12 | $11.15 | $23.86 | $71.13 |
These figures demonstrate a significant upward trend in costs over the years.
The Case for Competitive Bidding
Introducing a competitive bidding process for waste management services can offer several benefits:
- Cost Efficiency: Studies have shown that municipalities engaging in competitive tendering for waste services can achieve substantial cost savings. For instance, research indicates that cities utilizing contracted operations for waste services have significantly lower average costs per household compared to those that do not.
- Enhanced Service Quality: Competition encourages providers to innovate and improve their offerings to secure contracts, leading to better service quality for residents.
- Transparency and Accountability: A transparent bidding process ensures that contracts are awarded based on merit and value, fostering public trust in municipal governance.
In California, procurement laws emphasize competitive bidding to ensure fairness, transparency, and the prudent use of public funds. However, there are specific circumstances where non-competitive procurement methods, such as sole source or single source awards, are permissible:
Sole Source Procurement: Occurs when only one supplier possesses the unique capability to meet the requirements, often due to proprietary technology, specialized expertise, or exclusive rights. Cal Poly
Contact Your City Officials
To advocate for a competitive bidding process in El Cerrito’s waste management services, residents are encouraged to contact their City Council members and the City Clerk. Expressing your concerns and suggestions can influence the city’s decision-making process.
City Council Members:
- Carolyn Wysinger, Mayor (Term Ends: 2026)
- Email: cwysinger@ci.el-cerrito.ca.us
- Gabe Quinto, Councilmember (Term Ends: 2026)
- Email: gquinto@ci.el-cerrito.ca.us
- Lisa Motoyama, Council Member (Term Ends: 2028)
- Email: lmotoyama@ci.el-cerrito.ca.us
- Rebecca Saltzman, Council Member (Term Ends: 2028)
- Email: rsaltzman@ci.el-cerrito.ca.us
- William Ktsanes, Council Member (Term Ends: 2028)
- Email: wktsanes@ci.el-cerrito.ca.us
City Clerk:
- Holly M. Charléty, MMC, City Clerk
- Email: cityclerk@ci.el-cerrito.ca.us
- Phone: 510-215-4305
How to Submit Your Comments:
- Email the City Clerk: Send your written comments to cityclerk@ci.el-cerrito.ca.us. Request that your comments be included in the City Council meeting packet.
- Attend City Council Meetings: Participate in upcoming meetings to voice your concerns during the public comment period. Meeting schedules and agendas are available on the city’s official website.
Engaging in the civic process by communicating with your elected officials is a powerful way to advocate for change. By urging the City Council to initiate a competitive bidding process for waste management services, residents can help ensure that El Cerrito receives the best value and quality in its service contracts.
For more information on the benefits of competitive bidding in municipal waste services, refer to the study “Picking Up Savings: The Benefits of Competition in Municipal Waste Services.”
El Cerrito Committee for Responsible Government (ECCRG) 