Highland Sanitation awarded solid waste and recycling contract in Wanamingo, Minnesota

Vermillion, Minnesota-based Highland Sanitation has been awarded a five-year residential and commercial solid waste and recycling contract by the city of Wanamingo, Minnesota.

Highland Sanitation began services Jan. 1, replacing Houston-based WM as the exclusive residential and commercial solid waste and recycling hauler for the city.

According to a Facebook post by the city of Wanamingo, Highland Sanitation began dropping off totes and collection containers Dec. 26, 2024, with residential services set to begin Monday, Jan. 6.

The city issued a request for proposals (RFP) in 2024, receiving five proposals for service from WM, Highland Sanitation, LRS, Flom Disposal and Harter’s Disposal.

Wanamingo City Administrator Michael Boulton told ABC 6 News that costs played a major role in the proposal selection process and that Highland Sanitation had the lowest proposal.

Although cost was a factor, the residential monthly price for solid waste collection will increase from $15.75 to $18.61, while the monthly recycling rate will increase from $6.85 to $7.35. These prices are based on the current $123 per ton tipping fee, which the city says will fluctuate annually directly in proportion to the cost of disposal at the Red Wing Solid Waste Campus located in Red Wing, Minnesota.

“Our prices went up, but we went with the lowest proposal in order to keep our resident’s… costs down as much as possible,” Boulton told ABC 6 News.

Recycling will be picked up on a weekly basis, and accepted materials include glass bottles and jars of any color, aluminum cans, steel cans, plastic bottles, paper and cardboard. Unacceptable items include plastic bags, extruded polystyrene foam (XPS) and unclean pizza boxes, among others. Highland Sanitation does not accept scrap metal in curbside recycling but will collect these materials if residents arrange for pickup.

"My family is excited to extend our services to the many residents and families who live in Wanamingo, and we look forward to helping set a new standard for the trash and recycling services in their community," says Bobby Stewart, head of operations and customer relations at Highland Sanitation.

Founded in 1950, Highland Sanitation currently operates more than 25 trucks and retains nearly 55 employees, servicing more than 20,000 customers weekly.

*This article was edited Jan. 6, 2025, to correct the number of trucks Highland Sanitation operates and add comments from the company.