Reyes to negotiate city trash contract

By Breyana Segura - Chief Staff Writer | June 17, 2026

“Citizens are not putting their trash out when they are supposed to”

Faced with a critical six-month expiration window, Pearsall City Councilors voted to authorize City Manager Federico Reyes to negotiate a restructured solid waste contract with BFI Waste Service, a Republic Service company, following a lengthy debate over proposed service reductions.

The decision comes as municipal leaders balance the city’s public sanitation services against the logistical and financial strains of managing bulk and brush pickup.

Terry Gawlik, representing BFI, presented an updated contract proposal that leaves residential rates flat for the upcoming year while introducing several new financial and operational incentives for the city.

Under the proposed terms, BFI would provide the city with 106 free roll-off containers and maintain a four percent franchise fee on all commercial canisters that routes revenue directly back into the city.

For industrial roll-offs, the company pledged to donate 15 percent of revenues back to city hall on a quarterly basis.

Furthermore, the first five tons of waste for both industrial use and city wastewater would be processed free of charge, with the city receiving a discounted rate for any roll-offs required beyond the initial 106 allocation.

The focal point of the Tuesday, June 9 discussion centered on what the new contract would eliminate, a point directly questioned by the mayor.

“What are you taking away from the contract,” Mayor George Cabasos said.

Gawlik confirmed that the company sought to reduce, under direction of the city, its curbside services for brush and bulk pickups.

The mayor defended the retention of the city’s current curbside schedule, which currently guarantees residents two annual bulk pickups and four annual brush pickups.

“To me, I know my neighborhoods, I have been here my whole life, the bulk and brush pick up, it is a must,” the mayor said. “Some people have means to take it themselves, but I can guarantee that 80 percent do not and it is going to create a mess out there. We do not want that.”

Councilor James Leal countered that the current system is plagued by compliance issues that cost the city time and money, despite proper public notifications.

“Citizens are not putting trash out when they are supposed to, the city does their job in notifying them,” the councilor said. “They do not put the correct amount out there; they do not put the right stuff out there. It became a big issue, not only for Republic [Services] but also for the city. If it is going to be more of a problem, maybe we can make it more flexible, that way they can take [their trash].”

Reyes provided councilors with a breakdown of Pearsall’s current utility customer base, noting that the city serves 1,500 standard residential customers, 487 local senior citizens, who pay a discounted rate, 255 residential accounts that are outside city limits, and 34 senior citizen accounts outside city limits.

Reyes noted that if the primary concern regarding curbside reduction was the impact on elderly residents, specialized accommodations could be carved out for those accounts.

Moreover, the city manager reminded the council that Pearsall’s current waste disposal options are remarkably comprehensive.

“If you want to restructure, you could do one bulk and two brush [pickups],” Reyes said. “I believe the city of Pearsall provides an abundance of service; we provide the transfer station, brush pickup, Republic Services, four brush pickups, two bulk pickups, and an additional brush pick up, and we do two tire roundups. There is a significant amount of services that you provide.”

Councilor Rachael Leal supported a compromise to downsize the curbside schedule, noting that the city could strategically place the free containers from Republic Services as localized collection windows.

“We are going to cut down, but we are also going to have the containers out there for those that missed it,” the councilor said. “They can take their trash over there. This gives them an opportunity, a window, to take their stuff out there.”

While council members weighed service frequencies, Reyes emphasized that municipal procurement laws leave no room for delay.

With only six months remaining on the active contract with Republic Services, any potential modifications or bidding processes must occur immediately.

Acknowledging the council’s hesitation regarding proposed changes to curbside pickup, Gawlik stated he was agreeable to adjusting his proposal.

Councilors voted unanimously to authorize Reyes to enter formal negotiations with Republic Services to refine the contract’s scope before bringing a final version back to the table.