Smithville Switches Waste Provider; Contract Details Undisclosed | The Locally Times
Effective March 1, 2026, Smithville will switch waste providers, giving residents as few as three days' notice for the transition while public records on the contract's cost and approval are not available.
The City of Smithville will change its solid waste and recycling provider to Texas Disposal Systems (TDS), effective March 1, 2026. According to a February 20 announcement on the city’s website, new collection services will begin the week of March 4, 2026. The announcement states that residents’ trash and recycling pickup days may change and directs them to a separate document for schedule details; however, that document was not included with the public notice. ## A Swift Transition for Residents The timeline requires a rapid turnaround from residents. The final collection by Smithville’s current, unnamed provider is scheduled for the week of February 23-27. The city’s February 20 announcement gives residents as few as three days to prepare for the switch, instructing them to leave their old trash and recycling carts at the curb for removal during that final collection week. The city’s notice indicates that a TDS Welcome Packet and a City of Smithville Service Information document will contain details for the transition. The contents of these packets, including service levels and new collection routes, were not specified in the initial announcement. ## Contract Details and Public Process Undisclosed Key information regarding the new arrangement is absent from the public notice. The financial terms of the contract with Texas Disposal Systems, including its duration and any potential impact on resident fees, are not specified. The announcement also does not name the city's previous waste services provider or state the reasons for the change. Public records associated with the announcement do not detail the procurement process, such as whether the contract was subject to a competitive bid. The notice does not link to City Council agendas or minutes that would show when the agreement was debated and approved. The announcement describes TDS as a locally owned and managed group of companies, but provides no other details about the provider or the selection process.