Unincorporated DeSoto County and Walls residents are about to get a new service provider for garbage and recycling services.
The DeSoto County Board of Supervisors Monday signed a contract with Waste Connections, a contract that will begin on Oct. 1.
Garbage and recycling services are currently provided by Waste Pro, which has had difficulty in recent months successfully completing routes due to various issues. Waste Pro did not submit a bid to continue the contract past Sept. 30.
There was one other bidder for the six-year contract, Republic/BFI, however the Waste Connections bid was $1.5 million lower for the six years of the contract.
What residents will see with the new contract is an increase in monthly rates for service. Garbage service will be $17.50 per month with recycling services optional at an additional $10 per month if requested. Those who need an extra trash cart will pay $6 per month.
County officials said the increase is because of cost increases over the years since the Waste Pro contract was signed in 2017. Fuel, equipment, parts and labor costs have risen significantly in the past six years since the Waste Pro contract was signed.
It was noted in information from the DeSoto County government that the national average fee for trash pickup today is between $20-$45 per month.
More information about signing up for the recycling service and other details are expected to be announced in the near future.
