Anticipating increased trash collections, Eddy County accepted a bid of $2.6 million from a Texas construction firm to build a new garbage collection system at the Sandpoint Landfill east of Carlsbad. Eddy County received eight bids from interested contractors, wrote Procurement Director Dorie Fannin in a memorandum to the Eddy County Board of County Commissioners. WSP USA Environment and Infrastructure recommended the Midland-based firm as it was the lowest bid submitted.
New Mexico state law requires the lowest bid for a construction project be approved by a county or municipality in the state. Sept. 5 Eddy County’s Board of County Commissioners approved a $4 million budget transfer within the Public Works Department to start construction on Cell 6 and find a contractor as Cell 5 was filling up ahead of schedule, said Eddy County Public Works Director Jason Burns. Data from the City of Carlsbad Utilities Department indicated 51,000 tons of trash was hauled from residences and businesses in the City of Carlsbad at the end of 2022 to the Sandpoint Landfill.
Through September of this year nearly 41,000 tons of trash was collected from the City of Carlsbad and transported to the landfill, according to Utilities Department data. “Cell space is undoubtedly filling up at a speedy rate,” said former Keep Carlsbad Beautiful Executive Director and Carlsbad Ward 3 City Councilor-elect Mary Garwood. “As our area continues to grow in population and industry, Sandpoint must expand to accommodate this need, even if it is ahead of schedule.”