City of LG Hires New Trash Service

The City of La Grange hired a new trash pickup service, BVR Waste and Recycling of Brenham.

City Manager Jack Thompson said he and a committee of City staff reviewed three proposals from other companies providing solid waste, recycling and specialty collection services. The three companies were Texas Disposal Systems (TDS), BVR Waste and Recycling and Prosperity Infrastructure Group. After reviewing the proposals, they invited TDS and BVR for in-person interviews. Following the interviews, the committee unanimously selected BVR.

Thompson said BVR offered the lowest cost while offering some additional services.

The company will provide “E-pickups” of electronics twice a year. In addition, Thompson said BVR will provide additional brush pickup and bulk pickup times. Recycling will be picked up every other week, he said. BVR will pay the City a franchise fee equivalent to five percent of gross revenues.

“We fell a little bit under budget, so that enabled us to not raise rates this year,” Thompson said.

The base residential rate will stay the same at $28.47 per month for a single cart. The base rate for senior citizens (age 65 and up) will be $26.47 per month.

The five-year contract with BVR that Council approved Monday stipulates an annual rate adjustment tied to the U.S. Consumer Price Index and 12-month average fuel prices, with the total adjustment not to exceed five percent annually. Blake Brannon, President of BVR, spoke to the Council Monday night.

“We want to be a great partner with the city for many years to come,” Brannon said. “You have access to us. I am the owner and conducting day-to-day business, so you guys have access to me at any time, as well as our team.”

Brannon said his company would try to adhere to the current scheduled pickup days. BVR is scheduled to begin service in November.

The company Waste Management (WM) had served the City since 2021. WM Representative Matt Myers said the company’s regional team recently decided that La Grange would no longer be in their service area. Accordingly, WM did not submit a proposal. He thanked the City for many years of business and said WM remains committed to a smooth transition with the next service provider.

“You’ve done a fantastic job for us,” Thompson told Myers.

Councilwoman Katie Gross described the WM drivers as “top-notch.” She complimented them for their friendliness with residents. Likewise, Councilman Ken Taylor commended the WM drivers for taking time to physically handle carts instead of passing them by if they weren’t set out properly. Mayor Jan Dockery praised WM for providing opportunities to women in their industry. Myers thanked them for the comments and said he would pass along their messages.

Braxton Zella of Texas Disposal Systems also spoke at the meeting. “You’ve got some fine proposals in front of you and another great company to consider,” Zella said. “I just wanted to tell you this is a big decision that will have five years of ramifications. So I’d encourage you to look at it a little bit more before you make it. And we’ll be around if you have any questions.”

In the end, Council voted unanimously to award the contract to BVR.