The City of Austin continues its search for the best long-term recycling service provider.

Currently, Greenstar, of San Antonio, processes the city's single-stream recycling. Austin's contract with Greenstar expires in September.

Austin City Council will consider two competing resolutions Thursday. One calls for negotiation with Balcones Resources, and the other calls for negotiation with both Balcones Resources and Texas Disposal Systems.

"Those companies have demonstrated, long-term, their commitment and their success for our community in recycling and for other trash-related issues," Council member Laura Morrison said.

Council members Sheryl Cole and Bill Spellman are sponsoring the item that only calls for negotiation with Balcones Resources.

The members said Texas Disposal Systems didn't participate in the request for proposals process, and violated the city's lobbying rules.

The city's Solid Waste Services Department has originally recommended Allied Waste Services of Austin to finance, build and operate the new facility. However, public outcry over the company's handling of the Browning Ferris Industry, or BFI, Landfill in northeast Austin.

Neighbors and environmentalists vehemently opposed a request by BFI/Allied Waste to expand the landfill. The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality did, however, grant the permit for expansion.