ORANGE PARK – The Town Council conducted a wide-ranging discussion on solid waste services during its meeting on Tuesday night.

When finalizing plans for a solid waste contract, Orange Park and other municipalities must factor many details into their decision, said Town Manager Sarah Campbell. She said if a city or town decides to extend a contract, it sometimes gets a discount.

“If you’re making a commitment to your current provider, they sharpen their pencil and make their prices a little bit better,” she said.

However, that’s not always the case.

“Those renewal prices are gone, and it’s fair market value. Whatever people bid is what they bid. You’re going to pay a new bid rate,” Campbell said.

Finally, the last piece of the puzzle is the level of service that is provided in that contract.

The town currently receives pickup for trash twice weekly and once a week for recycling and loose yard debris.

Campbell said Orange Park pays $18.33 a dwelling unit, while residents pay $18.

Rates are increasing for pickup following COVID-19, but more importantly, Mayor Randy Anderson wants to keep costs as low as possible so town residents suffer the least burden likely.

“A lot of people in the town are struggling and can’t really afford an increase, so we need to keep it as low as possible,” he said.

Vice Mayor Alan Watt agreed. Both he and Anderson acknowledged the high level of service that Waste Management has provided for the town throughout the agreement.

“The bottom line is that (Waste Management) has heard us, they’ve made the adjustments, and they’re moving forward. I believe that we need to negotiate. I think we will get barbed if we pull out,” Anderson said.

The town met with Drew Staley, District Manager of Operations in Green Cove Springs, and another representative from the company from Jacksonville. The council concluded it would be best to continue their strong working relationship with Waste Management moving forward while also cutting back on the current level of service.

All council members elected to move forward to extend the contract with its third and final option, which was the lowest level of service provided on the list. That would likely include one trash pickup a week with a 95-gallon container as opposed to a 65-gallon can. Recycles would be picked up every other week.

“I think we have a good partnership here. I think we just need to figure out where the middle is,” Anderson said.

In a new contract, services would likely total an estimated $27-32 a dwelling unit, an expense divvied between the town and each household.