How to handle city trash was a lead topic at both the Bellevue and Dayton city council meetings last week.
The cities have had a joint agreement with Republic Services for many years, but that contract expires at the end of the fiscal year in June. Rumpke Waste & Recycling won the bid for the new waste management contract that would run five years, starting fiscal year 2025-26.
Rumpke was the only company to bid on the contract. The company handles waste and recycling collection for many of the other cities in Northern Kentucky and Greater Cincinnati.
The sticky part has been deciding among the many options offered by the company. The cities would pay for whatever services they decide to cover, and the money is recouped through property taxes. The cost to the city would be less per household than if a resident contracted with Rumpke on their own.
City leaders must decide which services to provide through the contract and which would be left up to individual residents to cover directly with Rumpke.
Lots of options
Robin Klaber, municipal public sector representative for Rumpke, presented at both cities’ meetings, fielding questions from council members and staff about pick-up options, service days and additional services available to cities.
Republic Services serviced homes over three days and picked up recycling and trash on different days. Klaber said Rumpke’s plan is to service all of the city’s approximately 5,000 households in one day per week. She laid out the costs to the city and residents.
Both cities must agree on one of the following options for residences:
- City covers only trash collection. Residents provide their own trash receptacle and, if they want recycling services, must subscribe directly with Rumpke. (annual cost to the city per household: $168; cost to residents for recycling service: $84 per year)
- City covers trash receptacles, known as toters, and trash collection. Residents subscribe directly with Rumpke for recycling on their own. (annual cost to the city per household: $192; cost to residents for recycling service: $84 per year)
- City covers both trash and recycling, but residents provide their own trash toter. (annual cost to the city per household: $234)
- City covers trash and recycling including all toters. (annual cost to the city per household: $258)
About toters (receptacles):
- Options include whether or not the city would include providing toters from Rumpke in their trash collection costs. If Rumpke does not provide the toters, residents must buy their own.
- Recycling services, whether through the city or direct subscription with Rumpke, include recycling toters.
- If the city selects to provide trash toters, the standard Rumpke toters hold 95 gallons. Residents can request smaller toters in 65-gallon or 35-gallon sizes.
- If a resident must purchase their own toter, they do not have to buy the type that can be lifted by the automated trucks. Rumpke uses automated trucks and non-automated trucks. Klaber said they will likely not use the automated arm trucks in the two cities because of the many narrow streets.
- If Rumpke provides toters, the company would be responsible for repairing or replacing any that break.
Additional services for cities
Klaber also said that for an additional $1 per household per month, Rumpke would provide each city with 12 40-yard roll-off dumpsters, 12 portable toilets and 50 cardboard trash boxes for community events.
Bellevue City Administrator Frank Warnock said the city has contracted in the past for roll-off dumpsters for contractors and residents to use when doing larger projects and for events. He said he expected the city would need more than one dozen, and so, that would increase the costs to the city.
According to Bellevue City Clerk Lindy Jenkins, the city used 54 roll-off dumpsters last year.
If they decide to go with that service through Rumpke, the additional dumpster costs would come in another part of the city budget, Warnock said.
Differing opinions and a time crunch
Members of both councils expressed a range of opinions and concerns. The cities must make their decision soon so residents can prepare for changes in their services.
“We want one contract for two cities, and we want to be consistent,” Warnock said. “We’ve got 12 elected leaders plus two mayors, and getting you guys to agree on any one thing might be somewhat of a challenge. I’ve learned that our elected leaders often do not agree with each other, but we can come to a collective decision if we talk about it, and that’s the ultimate goal.”
Some council members favored keeping costs to a minimum and only contracting for trash pickup. This would keep property taxes low and allow residents to make their own choices on toters and recycling. Others said having uniform toters would avoid trash messes and keep the city looking clean and tidy. Some favored encouraging recycling by including it in the contract.
Council members in both cities said they wanted to know what residents felt about the issue. Since they need to decide and vote on the contract soon, this poses a problem.
Dayton voted to use their second meeting of the month on May 27 to invite the public to come to talk about the issue. Bellevue officials said they plan to hold a special meeting as well and serve notice of the meeting and letting residents know as soon as possible.
Council and staff of both cities said they hoped residents would contact them in the meantime with any comments or concerns.