Santa Fe Solid Waste Management Agency plans to expand; requests bids

The Santa Fe Solid Waste Management Agency is planning to expand and is requesting bids from private contractors who will be able to process and market the entire supply of residential and commercial recyclables it receives from Santa Fe and the surrounding areas.

The agency at present deals with limited materials, including newspapers, corrugated cardboard, brown paper bags and aluminium cans. With the expansion, the agency hopes that the winning bidder will be able to include more recyclable materials to their list.

Santa Fe is otherwise known as an environment-conscious region however, its recycling rates have fallen below national and state standards recently. In 2011, the city’s recycling rate was 9% which fell to 8.4% in 2013, despite the constant campaigns designed to reach out and educate people.

“Our recycling diversion rate is dismal, and I know that we can do a lot better,” said City Councilor Joseph Maestas, who recently became chairman of the agency’s board.

Three Albuquerque-based companies have shown interest in the project and have indicated they will get in touch with the agency before Friday’s deadline.