NEW ORLEANS — Mayor LaToya Cantrell today was joined by Director of Sanitation Matt Torri, Councilmember Freddie King III of District C, Councilmember Eugene Green of District D, IV Waste Owner/President Sidney Torres, Richard’s Disposal Founder/CEO Alvin Richard and members of the community to officially sign new contracts for trash collection and recycling services in Service Areas 1 and 4, respectively.
“I continue to make it clear that eliminating our city of trash is a priority for my administration,” said Mayor LaToya Cantrell. “In response to residents’ continued frustration with unreliable, inconsistent and inefficient City services they were receiving, I was so excited to officially award and execute two new contracts to both IV Waste and Waste Pro in Service Areas 2 and 3. By continuing this momentum and executing these two new contracts for Service Areas 1 and 4, we are providing our people with the enhanced, consistent and reliable City services that they not only need but deserve. The awarding of these new contracts shows how we are continuing to make the necessary long-term investments, while improving quality of life and making positive progress towards a cleaner, safer and more vibrant city.”
“Over the past two years, we, as a City, have been on a mission to transform solid waste and recyclable material collection for our residents,” said Torri. “Within the last year, residents in Service Areas 2 and 3 have seen an immediate return on their investment with a significant reduction in missed collections, as well as the absence of truck leakage throughout their neighborhoods, and these new contracts will bring those same enhanced service levels to areas 1 and 4. Thank you to residents for their patience; the improved service and quality of life that they deserve are on the way.”
The new contract with IV Waste and Richard’s Disposal includes a seven-year agreement with the City of New Orleans to provide enhanced collection services to residents in Service Areas 1 and 4. IV Waste will service households in Service Area 1, which includes Uptown, Lakewood, Hollygrove, Leonidas, Mid-City, Gert Town, Marlyville-Fontainebleau, Black Pearl, Lower Garden District and Central City. Richard’s Disposal will service households in Service Area 4, which includes Algiers Point, McDonogh, Whitney, Fischer, U.S. Naval Base, Behrman, Tall Timbers-Brechtel, Old Aurora and New Aurora-English Turn.
Under the new Sanitation contract, IV Waste and Richard’s Disposal will introduce all-new equipment, a real-time GPS tracking system, a 360-degree view camera system and route management technologies. This new agreement will promote the return of curbside recycling and positions specifically curated to grow and manage recycling in the city.
In the fall of 2021, the City of New Orleans transitioned to once-a-week trash collection. Under this new agreement, the City will continue to provide once-a-week collection services, which have proven to be effective throughout the city. These enhanced services will also provide new 95-gallon trash and recycling carts to residents who request an additional container via 311.
“IV Waste is humbly honored to be responsible for keeping Service Area 1 clean starting April 1, just like we have been doing since November with Service Area 2,” said Torres. “We would like to thank Mayor Cantrell and her administration, as well as the New Orleans City Council, for allowing us this opportunity, and we promise to keep New Orleans clean.”
“Richard’s Disposal, Inc. is excited about the continued opportunity to serve the vibrant community of Algiers,” said Richard. “We are honored to have been selected as the contract provider for Service Area 4. Our team is eager to contribute to the city’s cleanliness goals and engage with the community to ensure the success of this continued partnership.
“These contracts are necessary for the continued sanitation collection in these service districts,” said Councilmember King. “The signing represents a commitment to maintaining the essential infrastructure for effective waste management. Ultimately, ensuring the continued operation of waste management services for our community continues to be a top priority.'”
“Today is a celebration of the fact that we continue to make progress in our city,” said Councilmember Green. “We have energy efficient vehicles being used, in addition to two companies that have stayed true to their commitment to immediately addressing any issues that may arise. Thank you to Mr. Torres of IV Waste, as well as Mr. Richard of Richard’s Disposal, for their commitment to the disadvantaged business enterprise participation, which is a very important component of our procurement and contracting process. This is how we build a stronger economy for our city, while addressing the inequities of the past.
“I would like to congratulate IV Waste for bidding and securing the contract to collect trash in Service Area 1,” said Councilmember Lesli Harris of District B. “IV Waste has a proven track record of providing quality services and swift responses to any issues that may occur. This new trash collection contract has some additional layers of accountability and safeguards in place to give neighborhoods a peace of mind. My office looks forward to working with IV Waste as they transition to Service Area 1 in the Spring of 2024.”
In September, the City of New Orleans announced a $3.9 million grant from the Solid Waste Infrastructure for Recycling for Communities (SWIFR) program from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to expand its residential recycling program, continue recycling outreach and education and develop a Solid Waste Master Plan (SWMP) to guide the City’s future waste diversion efforts.
Organic waste in the city’s trash and sewage is the source of about six percent of the community-wide greenhouse gas emissions. Currently, the City estimates that under five percent of recyclable materials are recycled and diverted from residential and commercial waste streams.
The City’s latest Climate Action Plan calls for significant investment in both infrastructure and public education to increase our waste diversion rate, with a goal of reaching a 25 percent recycling rate by 2030. It is estimated that this project will initially recycle about 19,000 tons per year of readily usable recyclable materials that are currently being landfilled in the city and up to 30,000 tons annually in future years as the program matures.
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