Beginning in January 2021, EDCO Disposal Corp. will be doing the dirty work in El Cajon, taking over for Waste Management. The El Cajon City Council on May 12 unanimously agreed with its consultants that the city would get its best deal through EDCO, which is the waste and recycling service provider in La Mesa and Lemon Grove. Republic Services had also been in the running for a 20-year agreement.
R3 Consoluting Group, Inc., told the City Council that over the course of the contract with EDCO, El Cajon is projected to have a savings estimated at $74 million. EDCO and the city also left an option to renew the contract for an additional 5-year period after that. The city reported that over 20 years, the contract with EDCO will cost ratepayers a collective $580.5 million. Waste Management’s cost was estimated to run about $654.8 million; Republic’s, $670.6 million.
The change in haulers will bring an increase in customer rates, as well, having nothing to do with EDCO, staff told the City Council. New statewide targets for trash, green waste and organic waste recycling requiring enhanced services are coming, staff said. Among the findings, R3 said that its evaluation showed EDCO with the overall lowest rates for collection services.