Midlothian, Texas Waste Franchise & Dumpster Restriction Tracker
Ellis County · Last reviewed 2026-07-21 · Verification status: Executed franchise agreement obtained via Texas Public Information Act request #2026-450 (33 documents released July 2026). Provider, exclusive structure, 10% franchise fee, contract term, and enforcement pattern are all confirmed against primary documents. Note on the ledger figure: the $390,969.23 total is from the city’s garbage franchise fee account for October 2019–September 2020, the most recent full year contained in the release; that period predates the August 2021 Waste Connections agreement, so it is reported here as the city’s franchise-fee revenue for that fiscal year rather than as revenue under the current contract. The source documents are published in the Document Library below. One enforcement thread is withheld because it names a private contractor and his job site; every published file was scanned to confirm no private mobile numbers or private-party contact details remain.
- 10%
- Franchise fee to the city
- $390,969.23
- Collected in FY2019–20
- All facilities & events
- Free service to the city
Of gross revenues collected inside the city limits; built into published customer rates.
Garbage franchise fee, ledger account 5146, Oct 2019–Sep 2020 — the most recent full year in the released records. This period predates the August 2021 Waste Connections agreement.
On top of the fee, the contract requires no-charge service for every city facility and city event.
Overview
The City of Midlothian requires every home and business inside the city limits to use a single, city-designated hauler. Under § 13.06.001(b) of the city code, all residential, commercial, and industrial premises “shall be required to use the solid waste disposal and recycling services provided by the City through a company designated in a franchise” — currently Waste Connections Lone Star, Inc. Records released under a Texas Public Information Act request confirm the arrangement in detail: the hauler pays the city a franchise fee of 10% of gross revenues collected in the city, built into published customer rates, plus free trash service for every city facility and city event. The city’s ledger shows $390,969.23 in garbage franchise fees for fiscal year 2019–20, the most recent full year in the release. The same records show the city actively enforcing the exclusive against competing haulers: the franchised hauler reports rival roll-off containers to city staff, and staff use code enforcement, the building-permit process, and the threat of stop-work “red tag” orders to have them removed. This is a factual summary of public records, not an allegation of wrongdoing — enforcing an exclusive municipal franchise is lawful.
Quick Facts
- County
- Ellis County
- Population
- Approx. 44,000 (2024 estimate; 35,469 at the 2020 census)
- Provider / franchise holder
- Waste Connections Lone Star, Inc. (city-franchised hauler)
- Parent company
- Waste Connections, Inc.
- Agreement type
- Exclusive solid waste & recycling franchise (City of Midlothian and Waste Connections Lone Star, Inc.)
- Exclusive status
- Exclusive
- Franchise fee
- 10% — 10% of gross revenues collected from residential, commercial, and industrial customers within the city limits, remitted within 15 business days after each month-end and subject to annual city audit. The rate exhibits state that published customer rates are inclusive of the 10% franchise fee. On top of the fee, the contract requires the hauler to service all City facilities and City events at no charge.
- Freedom Index rating
- 🔴 Exclusive Market
- Roll-off dumpsters mentioned
- Yes — confirmed (enforcement records target roll-off containers directly)
- Temporary waste mentioned
- Yes — confirmed
- Self-haul exception
- Needs verification (not located in the released records)
- City authorization required
- Yes — the ordinance requires use of the city’s franchised hauler
What the Ordinance Says
Relevant location: Chapter 13 (Utilities), Article 13.06 — Solid Waste · § 13.06.001(b) (all premises within the city must use the city's service or a company designated in a city-awarded franchise)
What the Contract Says
The executed franchise agreement with Waste Connections Lone Star, Inc., obtained through a Texas Public Information Act request, provides that the contractor pays the city a franchise fee equal to ten percent (10%) of gross revenues collected from residential, commercial, and industrial customers within the city limits, remitted within 15 business days after each month-end and subject to annual audit. Published customer rates are stated to be inclusive of that 10%. Separately, the contract requires the hauler to service all City facilities (city hall, public works, police, fire, library, water treatment plants, parks) and all City events at no charge, and lets the city add facilities and events to the free-service list at its discretion. The initial term commenced August 1, 2021 and runs five years, with two optional five-year renewals. The city’s procurement/RFP file set the 10% fee as a minimum and stated that “additional percentages shared to the City” would be “given weight in selection criteria evaluation”; the winning proposal states the proposed fee includes the 10% franchise fee, and the executed agreement fixes it at exactly ten percent.
Does This Affect Temporary Construction Dumpsters?
Construction dumpsters included: Yes.
The released records show the city enforcing the franchise specifically against temporary roll-off containers on private construction and commercial sites — the containers used for construction, remodeling, demolition, and roofing. Records show the hauler flagging competitors’ roll-offs at active building sites, and the city folding franchise enforcement into its building-permit and inspection process.
Published Rates
Roll-off containers (charged per occurrence) — Exhibit A, effective 8/1/2026
| Container | Delivery | Relocate / Exchange | Daily rental | Haul / Final | Disposal / ton |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20 yd open top | $124.60 | $174.15 | $4.35 | $397.15 | $92.18 |
| 30 yd open top | $124.60 | $174.15 | $4.98 | $454.44 | $92.18 |
| 40 yd open top | $124.60 | $174.15 | $5.61 | $571.64 | $92.18 |
| 35 yd self-contained compactor | Negotiated | $174.15 | Negotiated | $597.67 | $92.18 |
| 40 yd receiver box | Negotiated | $174.15 | Negotiated | $649.75 | $92.18 |
Because the provider is exclusive, these are the only rates available in the city for these services. Rates are inclusive of the 10% franchise fee paid to the city.
Monthly residential — Exhibit A, effective 8/1/2026
| Service | Rate |
|---|---|
| Curbside trash (2× weekly) | $13.30 |
| Curbside trash (with $1.01 admin fee) | $14.31 |
| Curbside recycling (2× monthly) | $3.30 |
| Additional trash/recycle cart | $6.15 |
Rates are inclusive of the 10% franchise fee paid to the city.
In Their Own Words
Quotations reproduced from records the city released. Context and full documents are listed under Sources.
“Can we have the inspectors go to the sites have them remove the roll offs ASAP. Speak with Supt on site. 48 hour removal. I havent heard back from my previous requests.”
“The roll off canisters - a sensitive subject. However, we need to protect our franchise agreement… We have sent cease and desist letters in the past to violators of this requirement.”
“It is crucial for us to take immediate action to have these containers removed or, ideally, prevent their placement altogether as permits are being issued.”
“I’m not sure what the next steps could be? Work Stop - Red Tag enforcement for violating the franchise?”
“The new building that they are building next to Niagara La Salle has someone else’s rolloff cans. I believe they have 6 of them.”
Known Enforcement Examples
- The franchised hauler reports competitors to the city. A Waste Connections representative emailed the city’s building official to flag that a building under construction “has someone else’s” roll-off. Records show hauler employees routinely flagging rival containers at job sites for city staff to act on.
- City staff describe it as franchise protection. In a city email thread, staff wrote that roll-off canisters are “a sensitive subject. However, we need to protect our franchise agreement,” noting the city has “sent cease and desist letters in the past to violators of this requirement.”
- Escalation to stop-work / red tag. A city official asked in writing whether the next step should be “Work Stop – Red Tag enforcement for violating the franchise?”
- Field enforcement. A city inspector wrote that he “left an inspection report that said remove the dumpster and a copy of the city ordinance,” and would return to check on it.
- Enforcement folded into permitting. Staff discussed instructing the city’s third-party commercial building inspectors to point out the permit statement and refer to the franchise agreement letter when permits are issued.
- Inspector note (Aug. 20, 2025). During a mechanical rough inspection on a private Midlothian development, a city inspector left a written note: “Unauthorized dumpster on site, remove and contact Waste Connections for the proper dumpster” (submitted photo; inspector name redacted).
Operator Reports (1)
First-hand accounts from dumpster operators who say they were enforced against in this city. Reporters are kept anonymous unless they chose to be identified.
- Operator A
On August 20, 2025, a local builder requested a 20-yard roll-off from an independent operator for a private development in Midlothian. During a mechanical inspection, a city inspector left a note stating: “Unauthorized dumpster on site, remove and call Waste Connections for the proper dumpster.” The operator submitted a photo of the note. (The builder and inspector are referenced by role to protect privacy.)
Evidence & Documents
Media submitted to the Texas Waste Freedom Project. Reflects the submitter’s account; presented as documentation.
Legal Challenges
Status: No known challenge
No known lawsuit or legal challenge at this time, according to available sources.
Timeline
- Franchise term commences · 2021-08-01The exclusive solid waste and recycling franchise with Waste Connections Lone Star, Inc. begins — five-year initial term with two optional five-year renewals.
- City issues franchise notice letter · 2025-05-29The city circulates a Waste Connections franchise notice letter.
- Inspector orders dumpster removed · 2025-08-20During a mechanical rough inspection on a private development, a city inspector notes “Unauthorized dumpster on site, remove and contact Waste Connections for the proper dumpster.”
- Public records released · 2026-07-01The city releases 33 documents in response to Texas Public Information Act request #2026-450, including the executed franchise agreement, rate exhibits, RFP file, fee ledger, and code-enforcement email threads.
Sources
- Executed franchise agreement — City of Midlothian and Waste Connections Lone Star, Inc.ContractConfirmed by contract
- Exhibit A rate schedule (residential + roll-off)ContractConfirmed by contract
- City franchise-fee accounting ledger, account 5146, Oct 2019–Sep 2020 ($390,969.23)Financial recordConfirmed by contract
- Procurement / RFP file — 10% minimum, “additional percentages … given weight”ContractConfirmed by contract
- City code-enforcement email threads — competitor reports, “red tag” discussion, cease-and-desist historyPublic recordsConfirmed by contract
- Waste Connections franchise notice letter, 5-29-2025Public recordConfirmed by contract
- City inspection record instructing “remove and contact Waste Connections,” Aug. 20, 2025 (redacted photo)Field reportField report only
- City of Midlothian Code of Ordinances § 13.06.001(b) (eCode360)OrdinanceConfirmed by ordinance
Document Library (10)
Primary source documents released by the city. Free to download and republish.
- Executed franchise agreement — City of Midlothian & Waste Connections Lone Star, Inc.
The signed exclusive solid waste and recycling franchise, including the 10% franchise fee, the free-service-to-the-city terms, and the term/renewal structure.
Contract· 7.5 MB - Exhibit A — franchise rate schedule
Published residential and roll-off container rates, stated to be inclusive of the 10% franchise fee.
Contract· 472 KB - Franchise fee ledger (account 5146, Oct 2019–Sep 2020)
The city’s general-fund ledger showing twelve monthly garbage franchise fee remittances totaling $390,969.23 for that fiscal year.
Financial record· 438 KB - RFP / procurement file
The solicitation setting 10% as a minimum franchise fee and stating that “additional percentages shared to the City” would be given weight in selection.
Procurement· 11 MB - Waste Connections franchise notice letter (5-29-2025)
Notice circulated regarding the franchise.
Public record· 161 KB - Waste Connections dumpster information
Container and service information provided by the franchised hauler.
Public record· 663 KB - City enforcement thread — roll-off cans
The thread containing “we need to protect our franchise agreement,” the cease-and-desist history, and the hauler flagging a competitor’s containers.
Public records / email· 195 KB - City enforcement thread — more roll-off cans
The thread in which a city official asks whether the next step is “Work Stop – Red Tag enforcement for violating the franchise?”
Public records / email· 262 KB - City enforcement thread — illegal dumpster
Inspector reports leaving an inspection report directing removal, with a copy of the city ordinance.
Public records / email· 652 KB - City enforcement thread — illegal dumpsters
Further city correspondence on unauthorized containers.
Public records / email· 113 KB
How This Was Obtained
Every material fact on this page is drawn from records the City of Midlothian produced in response to a Texas Public Information Act request — including the executed Waste Connections franchise agreement and its rate exhibits, the procurement/RFP file, the city’s franchise-fee accounting ledger, and city code-enforcement email threads. Quotations are reproduced from those records.
Records request: Texas Public Information Act request #2026-450 (submitted July 2026; 33 documents released)
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Notes and Verification Status
No lawsuit or legal challenge to Midlothian’s franchise at this time. Worth noting for context: the neighboring Ellis County city of Waxahachie — which uses the same hauler and the same 10% franchise structure — is the subject of a pending challenge (American AF Dumpster Rentals and the Institute for Justice v. City of Waxahachie) over an exclusive franchise as applied to temporary construction dumpsters. See the Waxahachie record at /tracker/waxahachie-texas/.
Confidence level: Confirmed by contract · Verification status: Executed franchise agreement obtained via Texas Public Information Act request #2026-450 (33 documents released July 2026). Provider, exclusive structure, 10% franchise fee, contract term, and enforcement pattern are all confirmed against primary documents. Note on the ledger figure: the $390,969.23 total is from the city’s garbage franchise fee account for October 2019–September 2020, the most recent full year contained in the release; that period predates the August 2021 Waste Connections agreement, so it is reported here as the city’s franchise-fee revenue for that fiscal year rather than as revenue under the current contract. The source documents are published in the Document Library below. One enforcement thread is withheld because it names a private contractor and his job site; every published file was scanned to confirm no private mobile numbers or private-party contact details remain.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Midlothian, Texas have an exclusive waste franchise?
Exclusive status for Midlothian is currently listed as "Exclusive." The City of Midlothian requires every home and business inside the city limits to use a single, city-designated hauler. Under § 13.06.001(b) of the city code, all residential, commercial, and industrial premises “shall be required to use the solid waste disposal and recycling services provided by the City through a company designated in a franchise” — currently Waste Connections Lone Star, Inc. Records released under a Texas Public Information Act request confirm the arrangement in detail: the hauler pays the city a franchise fee of 10% of gross revenues collected in the city, built into published customer rates, plus free trash service for every city facility and city event. The city’s ledger shows $390,969.23 in garbage franchise fees for fiscal year 2019–20, the most recent full year in the release. The same records show the city actively enforcing the exclusive against competing haulers: the franchised hauler reports rival roll-off containers to city staff, and staff use code enforcement, the building-permit process, and the threat of stop-work “red tag” orders to have them removed. This is a factual summary of public records, not an allegation of wrongdoing — enforcing an exclusive municipal franchise is lawful.
Are temporary construction dumpsters affected in Midlothian?
Construction dumpsters included: Yes. The released records show the city enforcing the franchise specifically against temporary roll-off containers on private construction and commercial sites — the containers used for construction, remodeling, demolition, and roofing. Records show the hauler flagging competitors’ roll-offs at active building sites, and the city folding franchise enforcement into its building-permit and inspection process.
What franchise fee does Midlothian receive?
10% — 10% of gross revenues collected from residential, commercial, and industrial customers within the city limits, remitted within 15 business days after each month-end and subject to annual city audit. The rate exhibits state that published customer rates are inclusive of the 10% franchise fee. On top of the fee, the contract requires the hauler to service all City facilities and City events at no charge.
Is there a lawsuit or legal challenge in Midlothian?
No known lawsuit or legal challenge at this time, according to available sources.
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