Fishers recommends Republic Services for citywide trash contract

The city of Fishers is recommending a 10-year contract with Phoenix-based Republic Services Inc. to collect trash in the community. (Photo courtesy Republic Services)

The city of Fishers, which has spent months considering whether to contract with a single trash-collection company, on Tuesday recommended Phoenix-based Republic Services Inc. for the role.

In March, Fishers issued a request for proposals for its first citywide trash contract, and in June began negotiations with three companies that submitted offers: Republic Services, Houston-based Waste Management Inc. and Romulus, Michigan-based Priority Waste LLC.

Jordin Alexander, an economic development specialist for the city, told members of the Fishers Board of Public Works on Tuesday morning that Republic Services, if approved, would receive a 10-year contract for weekly trash and every-other-week recycling pickup.

If the contract goes into effect next year, residents would pay a monthly rate of $16.39 in 2025; $17.33 in 2026; $18.32 in 2027; $19.38 in 2028; $20.51 in 2029; $21.72 in 2030; $23 in 2031; $24.36 in 2032; $25.82 in 2033; and $26.89 in 2034.

“If a company is willing to stand up and say, ‘We’ll take the risk of fuel prices going up, labor prices going up and we’re going to lock in,’ at least in today’s environment, that’s a better scenario for us than it is for them,” Mayor Scott Fadness said at Tuesday’s meeting.

Alexander said Republic Services would offer snowbird service to allow residents to pause services if they leave home for a month or longer. She added that the company’s offer would provide a lower monthly rate next year for 85% of residents.

“The review of the submissions and then also this recommendation, it was not based solely on cost of services,” Alexander said. “We really were focusing on the ability to service the community, but also to ramp up services.”

Alexander said Republic Services currently provides trash services for 60% of the Fishers market. There are more than 32,000 residential units in Fishers.

Last year, the city conducted a public survey for residents and HOAs to learn more about their current trash services and preferences. A total of 2,532 residents and 120 HOAs completed the survey, according to the city.

According to the survey, 70% of residents said they pay more than $21 per month for trash collection, while 22% said they pay between $31 and $40 per month, and 24% said they pay more than $41 per month for trash and recycling services.

Currently, Republic Services and Waste Management provide trash collection pickup in Fishers. Residents can contract directly with the companies for services. In some neighborhoods, homeowners associations contract with the providers in an effort to offer bulk rates.

Waste Management acquired Ray’s Trash Service in September 2022. Clayton-based Ray’s was the largest family-owned recycling and waste collection operation in central Indiana.

Of the four major cities in Hamilton County, only Fishers does not have a contract with a single waste-collection provider. Republic Services collects waste in Carmel and Noblesville, while Waste Management handles pickup in Westfield.

In 2013, Fishers examined entering into a contract with a single trash-collection company, but the move proved to be unpopular with residents. City Councilor Pete Peterson told IBJ last year that there was lingering animosity from a recent annexation and people were concerned about “big government.”

The Fishers Board of Public Works will hold a public hearing and vote to approve the contract at its Tuesday, Aug. 13, meeting. The Fishers City Council will consider a final recommendation this fall.