VENTURA : 6 Firms May Seek City Trash Contract

Five rubbish companies may compete with longtime city trash hauler E. J. Harrison & Sons Inc. for a lucrative long-term contract to handle Ventura’s trash, city officials said.

A public workshop will be held Thursday so council members can question representatives of companies who are interested in entering an agreement.

The contract is worth $9.1 million annually, with the agreement stretching over five or 10 years, said Steve Chase, the city’s environmental coordinator. The long-term contract would allow the company to secure lower interest rates on financing from banks, which would save ratepayers money in the long term, Chase said. In the past, the city has awarded one-year contracts, and two years ago, switched to six-month contracts, Chase said.

E. J. Harrison & Sons Inc. has been hauling Ventura’s trash for six decades, prompting other rubbish companies to complain that the local company held a monopoly. The city now contracts with Gold Coast Recycling Center and two rubbish haulers, E. J. Harrison & Sons Inc. and Ventura Rubbish Service. The Harrison family owns the two hauling companies, and three Harrison sons own about one-third of Gold Coast Recycling Center.

In addition to Harrison, five small to medium-sized companies were invited to the public workshop. Those who are interested in winning the contract will attend to answer questions, Chase said. The companies were selected based on reputation and performance in other cities and reports of their qualifications, Chase said.

The Ad Hoc Waste Committee, which is comprised of Councilmen Gary Tuttle, Tom Buford and Mayor Greg Carson, will question representatives on Thursday, Chase said. The committee will make a recommendation to the full City Council, which is scheduled to award the contract in early 1993, Chase said. If everything goes according to schedule, the agreement will go into effect July 1, 1993, Chase said.

The workshop will be held at 2 p.m. at the Community Meeting Room in City Hall.