Pine Bluff residents are close to having a new waste pickup service.
A contentious Pine Bluff City Council meeting on Tuesday night saw frustration and debate surrounding the proposed solid waste contract with CARDS Inc., with council members raising significant concerns about the process, transparency and potential impact on citizens. This followed a detailed presentation from procurement and senior environmental consultant George Wheatley.
The city has a contract with Waste Management scheduled to terminate Oct. 31.
The City Council, however, will reconvene at 6 p.m. Thursday to review the proposed contract and supporting documentation. Wheatley highlighted the urgency of the transition, noting that 15,000 carts and hundreds of commercial parts and trucks had already been ordered, underscoring the tight timeline.
The proposed CARDS contract, with a five-year term and a mutual consent extension option for an additional five years, aims to introduce new service levels and equipment to the city at a rate of $19.39 per month. Key changes include residential trash collection once a week with a 96-gallon cart, as well as bulk and brush collection once a week, with no call-in required. Annual rate adjustments would be tied to the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ garbage and trash index, capped at 4%, and all new equipment (carts, dumpsters, roll-off containers and trucks) would be mandated for the chosen vendor to “beautify Pine Bluff.”
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
A selection committee, comprised of nine members, evaluated four firms: WM, CARDS, Green for Life and Republic Waste. The scoring criteria weighted written proposals (experience, financial strength, ability to purchase new equipment, local safety scores, clarity and organization) at 65% and pricing at 35%. CARDS ultimately received the highest combined score, followed closely by GFL and WM.
Under the existing WM agreement, residents pay $18.28 per home per month for weekly trash collection, with additional services such as bulk and brush collection requiring prior call-ins. Recycling services are not currently provided.
The city engaged Solid Waste Specialists in May 2025 to assist with drafting the request for proposals (RFP) and managing the procurement process. A Solid Waste RFP committee was formed to provide input on desired changes to the new contract. The RFP outlined four service options, including variations with open or closed roll-off markets and the addition of weekly recycling services.
Four firms submitted proposals by the Aug. 11 deadline. The combined scores were as follows:
CARDS Inc. — 76 points;
GFL — 74 points;
WM — 73 points;
Republic Services — 64 points.
CARDS emerged as the top scorer, excelling in both the written evaluation and pricing categories. Their proposed house rate for weekly trash, bulk and brush collection was $19.39, with an additional $8 for weekly recycling services under the open roll-off market option.
The top three firms — CARDS, GFL and WM — were invited for interviews on Aug. 22. The interviews allowed the committee to pose specific questions to each company and assess their ability to meet the city’s needs.
Following the interviews, the committee unanimously recommended CARDS Inc. as the best overall choice. Their proposal, the committee said, demonstrated a strong combination of competitive pricing, operational efficiency and a clear plan for transitioning to the new contract.
The new contract with CARDS would take effect on Nov. 2, ensuring a seamless transition for Pine Bluff residents.
In a bid to continue its longstanding partnership with the city of Pine Bluff, Jamie Vernon, WM’s public sector manager for Arkansas, addressed the mayor and city council in a letter expressing gratitude for the company’s 30-year relationship with the community. Vernon highlighted WM’s commitment to Pine Bluff, noting the company’s role in navigating challenges such as the pandemic, natural disasters and economic hurdles alongside the city.
The alternate bid comes in response to the Request for Proposal issued by the city. Vernon explained that the original bid specifications, as developed by a consultant, would lead to increased operating costs and higher rates for residential, commercial and roll-off services. To mitigate this, WM proposed an alternate plan that maintains the current scope of services while offering savings to residents.
Key Highlights of WM’s alternate proposal included:
Lower residential rate: WM’s alternate residential rate is $15.85, which is $2.53 less than the current rate of $18.38 and $3.54 lower than the $19.39 rate proposed by competitor CARDS. This translates to an annual savings of $42.48 per household and a total citywide savings of $573,480 compared to CARDS’ proposal.
Local customer service: The proposal includes local customer service based in Pine Bluff, with office hours and a dedicated phone number for residents to directly reach WM staff in the city.
Minimized service interruptions: WM emphasized that its plan would ensure continuity of services for residents and businesses, avoiding disruptions and the need for roll-off customers to seek open-market solutions by Oct. 31.
While WM’s alternate bid includes some exceptions to the contract language, Vernon assured the city council that the company is open to negotiating these terms in good faith.
Vernon urged the council to consider the financial benefits and local service advantages of WM’s proposal before deciding on a new company. “We understand this is a complex decision and respectfully ask that you consider the significant cost savings and the local service that WM’s alternate proposal offers,” Vernon wrote.
However, several council members voiced strong reservations. Council Member Lanette Frazier expressed concern about Waste Management’s past issues with residents not having their trash picked up on time.
Council Member Steven Mays directly questioned the responsiveness of the proposed company, stating, “My thing is, if somebody has a problem with some trash on Friday in the neighborhood, are you guys gonna make it happen?”
In June 2024, The Pine Bluff Commercial reported frustrated residents demanding action at a council meeting because of what they said was a deteriorating situation with Waste Management. In July 2024, residents attended a Jefferson County Quorum Court meeting, citing their differences with the company, saying Waste Management was not emptying their dumpsters or even picking up trash at all.
Waste Management customers described overflowing trash bins attracting vermin, weekslong delays in residential and commercial pickups and missed collections. They also said the lack of required trash pickups had led to illegal dumping.
In December 2024, Jefferson County Judge Gerald Robinson suspended the service from Waste Management — which, county residents complained, wasn’t picking up garbage. “Waste Management did not satisfy Jefferson County, many citizens, and live up to the contract,” said Robinson. “With that in mind, I elected to go with another waste sanitation service, which is LRS.”
Vernon had also written a letter to the Jefferson County justices of the peace due to that decision.
The sentiment of needing more time during Tuesday’s city council meeting to review the extensive proposal was a recurring theme. “I just don’t feel comfortable just rubber-stamping what was being presented, and you really don’t have time to understand it,” said Council Member Bruce Lockett. “I just really think that we need a little bit more time.”
Pine Bluff Mayor Vivian Flowers acknowledged the short timeframe for transition but defended the thoroughness of the selection process. She also highlighted key factors that weighed in favor of CARDS, including “investing in a calling transfer and customer service facility here in the city.”
Despite Flowers’ assurances, the motion to table the resolution until a later meeting was passed.