NATCHEZ — Making waste collection more understandable for residents marked one of highlights of discussion during a Thursday public meeting between city officials and representatives from six waste companies.

The companies in attendance had the chance to ask several questions before submitting proposals to become the city’s next waste and recycling hauler, and some of those questions sought clarity about what services residents should expect. Companies represented at Thursday’s meeting, included the city’s current hauler Waste Pro, former hauler Waste Management and Metro Service Group, Arrow Disposal Service Inc., Red River Waste Solutions and Rehrig Pacific Company.

A lack of attendance at the meeting does not preclude other companies from submitting proposals.

One aspect of waste collection that has caused residents grief in the past, officials said, is what specifications must be met to avoid having trash left on the curb.

Ward 3 Alderwoman Sarah Smith said she had received numerous complaints about trash not being picked up, and some of that stemmed from one ambiguous word: “bundling.”

The term caused some confusion even within the meeting.

Toward the end of the discussion, resident Jessica Stubbs gave her perspective on the matter. Stubbs said she once experienced the bundling issue firsthand when she cut her limbs into 4-foot segments — as is required for pickup — but did not know about the requirement to tie the limbs together with twine or rope.

“I think a lot of people don’t know about that,” Stubbs said. “The complaints that you get about that just need to be clarified whenever the decision is made (about a contract) to the public about what the requirements are for that.”

But Waste Management’s David Holloway said “bundling” is not the same as “tying together.”

“If you’ve got in your contract ‘pick up a bundle,’ you’re supposed to pick up a bundle whether it’s tied or not.”

Holloway, Smith and others said these types of items need to be clarified going forward.

The rest of the meeting mostly consisted of representatives asking questions to Smith, City Attorney Bob Latham and City Planner Riccardo Giani.

Officials could not answer some of the questions, however, such as whether the contract would require a performance bond.

A performance bond provides a way for the city to seek reimbursement in the event that the contractor does not provide satisfactory performance. For example, a performance bond of $1,000,000 could allow the city to seek up to that amount in such a scenario.

Other issues that were not made clear to companies prior to the meeting included the desired term of the contract and whether companies would be required to pickup more than one container of trash on collection days.

Latham said the haulers could propose whatever term they would like.

Regarding the amount of carts, that depends. The city will have the option to require either the hauler or the resident to provide one 65-gallon cart. If the latter, Smith said she wants collectors to pick up a second container in addition to the first 65-gallon cart, especially if the city opts to reduce trash pickup to once a week.

“If we go to once a week and somebody puts out a second container, I don’t want it sitting out there for a week,” Smith said.

With the proposals due April 9, Giani said companies would get clarifications to all their questions promptly.

When the city does receive proposals, officials will have the task of balancing pricing options with providing quality services to residents.

The city must select a new contractor by the end of May.