The city of Conyers is looking at outsourcing its solid waste and recyclables collection for residents and businesses by the end of the year and is in the process of hearing bid offers and proposals.

The city council and staff heard presentations from three companies at Friday's city council retreat at Lake Lanier Island: Advanced Disposal, Pratt Industries, and Waste Management.

The contract would be for 10 years, possibly constructed to be 5 years with the option to renew for another 5 years, and would require that trash and recycling pickup fees remain the same as the current fees during that time.

"There will be no decrease in service to city residents," said City Manager Tony Lucas. "The only thing residents would see is the truck. Their service won't change, the dates won't change, and the price will remains for residents."

Lucas said the city would have to look at raising fees if it continued to perform these services itself, with the cost of replacing equipment such as dump trucks, increasing cost of diesel fuel, and the time it takes to haul trash out to the landfill in Griffin.

"If we continue in this business, we know we're going to have to make significant decisions in fee increases for residents. This is going to lock in a 10 year contract so there isn't any increase. Commercial or residential."

The city would continue pickup of limbs, leaves, and other items left on the curb while the company chosen would handle solid waste and recyclables.

Pratt Industries proposed they would build a $13 million MURF center that could sort recyclables out of trash and mixed items and would recycle or use for energy 80 percent of all the solid waste collected. Although Pratt reportedly provides this service in Louisiana, this would be the first such service in Georgia.

Advanced Disposal would reportedly provide a 100 percent rebate on recyclables and would provide free services for senior citizens of up to 4 percent of residents and for city facilities and the Georgia International Horse Park.

Waste Management, one of the largest solid waste collection companies in the country, owns several landfills in the state and would also provide free service for the city facilities and GIHP, and offer $20 per ton reimbursement on recyclables.

The city aims to make a decision by the end of the month, said Lucas, and put in place the new trash collection service by the end of the year.