TIFTON, Ga. — In a four hour plus meeting, three garbage companies pitched their services to the Tifton City Council on April 15.

Golden Environmental, Ryland Environmental and Advanced Disposal ran through their services, experience, prices and company history.

In scoring the companies before their presentations, the council considered a number of criteria, including customer service, scheduling, management, pricing and company information, among others.

“We’ve all had issues that we felt needed to be addressed.” said Tifton Mayor Julie Smith. “It’s a very delicate decision we’ll be making.”

Golden Environmental

Golden Environmental is the current waste management company for the city. The five-year contract is set to expire at the end of 2019.

Richard Golden, owner of Golden Environmental, emphasized his experience with Tifton in his presentation, as well as Golden Environmental’s recycling work.

“I know Tifton like the back of my hand,” said Golden. “I’m proud to call my home base Tifton for Golden Environmental.

“I’ve been here all my life. This is all I’ve ever done. I take it very seriously. I enjoy it and I am committed to it 100 percent. I’m your partner to the extent that no one else would approach what I can do for the City of Tifton.”

As council members suggested possible changes moving forward, Golden said he was open to change and new ideas.

“You have options with me,” said Golden. “We can try some of these if you wanted to. Next week, if you want to try.

“I can move pretty quick. If you want to change something or you’ve got something in mind…I’m not stuck to what’s on the paper. I’m very flexible.

Golden went through changes in recycling over the last five years, going from his company originally getting paid for delivering recyclable materials to now having to pay recycling companies to take those same materials.

“The cost of recycling is rising substantially,” said Golden. “It’s not a money maker. You’re not going to make money. I feel like it’s the right things to do.”

In the last five years, Golden has seen a rise in the volume of recycling while the number of people recycling has held steady.

“The ones that are participating are full doing it,” said Golden.

Golden also suggested going to once a week pickup for yard waste and bulk item pickup.

Councilman Frank Sayles questioned several items on the current contract between Golden Environmental and the City of Tifton, including the part requiring Golden Environmental to send regular bulk waste reports to the city.

Golden admitted he had stopped sending them.

“That’s important to us,” said Sayles.

Sayles asked if more could be done to educate customers on the rules governing bulk waste items: size limits, pick up times, etc.

Golden suggested that code enforcement tickets be written for residents who violate the bulk waste rules and for non-paying residents who put bulk items out on the street for pickup.

“I think a few tickets need to be given to residents or landlords,” said Golden. “I think it’s a joint help there.”

“If code [enforcement] helps you, it’ll give you a better hold of it?” asked councilman Johnny Terrell.

“The landlord who’s evicted someone and is cleaning out the house…we’re in no man’s land as to who’s going to pick that up,” said Golden. “I’m expected to do it…but I’ve got to be paid to do that. I think a ticket or two would do wonders.”

Terrell brought up instances of residents putting out bulk waste that sat there for weeks awaiting pickup.

Golden suggested once a week bulk item pickup as a solution.

“Even with the once a week, I think it’ll get better,” said Golden. “With some help there, some serious help, I think that’ll get a little better.”

Council member Jack Folk also brought up yard debris pickup and asked Golden for more consistency in scheduling.

Ryland Environmental

Based out of Dublin, Georgia, Ryland Environmental has been in operation for a decade.

In its pitch to the council, James Lanier, one of three co-owners along with Todd Yates and Greg Roche, touted a focus on safety and customer service.

“Safety is a non-negotiable issue with me,” said Lanier. “I do our safety meetings myself.”

“Once the customer service is gone, it’s gone,” he added. “We’ve made a commitment to not let that happen.”

Ryland uses a camera system called 3rd Eye to track garbage trucks running their routes.

A six-camera system is installed on each truck, showing the front, back and both sides of the truck.

“For property damage claims, we can go back to the footage,” said Lanier.

Lanier suggested weekly pickup for yard debris, as well as establishing a drop off center to supplement the pick-up recycling cans.

“You’ve got to tailor a recycling program to the community it’s in,” Lanier said.

Lanier also promised 24-hour solutions to any problems that crop up.

“Before the end of the day, we’ve got your problem solved,” Lanier said.

Advanced Disposal

Steve Edwards and Jerry Lovett with Advanced Disposal pointed to the company’s longevity. Advanced Disposal was founded in 2000, and became publicly traded in 2016. It’s currently in the middle of a merger with Waste Management.

The Florida-based company works across 16 states. In the South Georgia area, it services Lowndes County, Moody Air Force Base, Nashville and Norman Park, among others.

If awarded the contract, Advanced Disposal plans to build a Tifton office and staff it with “at least 10 people.”

“We want to make a $3 million investment in the city of Tifton,” said Edwards.

“Our plan is to give you guys all new trucks…a fresh start,” said Lovett. “We’re here today and are going to stay tomorrow.”

They proposed once a week garbage, bulk item and yard waste pickup, with every other week for recycling.

The two pointed to the importance of public education: sending out letters to resident, holding regular meetings with city staff and advertising in local media, among other ways.

They said that Advanced Disposal also plans to use the 3rd Eye technology.

Price Breakdown

In the submitted proposals, the three companies included possible pricing for their services. While it should be noted these aren’t final prices, they do serve to provide comparison between the three.

Golden Environmental pitched $8.90 for garbage pickup, $7.60 for every week yard trash pickup, $3 for recycling pickup every other week and $1 for every week bulk item pick up. That would average out to $20.50 each week.

Ryland Environmental proposed $16.25 for garbage and every other week recycling, $3.08 for weekly yard trash pickup and $1 for bulk item pickup, coming to $20.33.

Advanced Disposal submitted $10 for garbage pickup, $8.39 for weekly yard trash pickup, $4.47 for every other week recycling and $0.93 for bulk item pickup, totaling $23.79.

After the three presentations, council members decided to also run the numbers for the three contractors providing every week bulk waste and yard debris collection and every other week bulk waste and yard debris collection, versus the costs of the city providing the service.