Ludlow may raise the cost for waste collection for the next three years to account for unexpected increases in expenses like gas prices.
City leaders said an increase of $1.59 to the current collection fee of $28.50 per month would allow the city to recoup additional charges from Rumpke in the future.
The topic came up in last week’s city council meeting, where members held a first reading of an amended waste disposal fee for residents.
Previously, the waste disposal fee was:
July 1, 2023 – June 30, 2024: $24.50 per unit per month
July 1, 2024 – June 30, 2025: $25.68 per unit per month
July 1, 2025 – June 30, 2026: $26.91 per unit per month
(Proposed) June 1, 2026 – June 30, 2029: $28.50 per unit per month
The Ludlow waste disposal fee is collected annually and due on or before Oct. 31.
Council Member Stephan Chapman Sr. said during the meeting that Ludlow pays a hefty fee to Rumpke monthly and that residents will see an increase in their waste disposal fee this upcoming October.
Rumpke provides each residence with one 95-gallon trash cart for solid waste, with additional carts made available at $3.50 per month per cart, billed directly to residents quarterly. All carts are property of Rumpke. Residents are limited to two carts per week. Rumpke will continue weekly curbside recycling services, and residents will be provided with one 65-gallon recycling cart at no cost. Additional recycling carts are $3.50 per month per cart.
In the contract between Ludlow and Rumpke, all rates are subject to a fuel adjustment that is adjusted monthly based on the Rumpke Corporate Fuel Calculation Table and the Department of Energy’s Energy Information Administration highway diesel price index for the Midwest region.
Even though the agreement spans three years, the contract specifies that if Rumpke experiences increased operating costs—such as higher tipping or disposal fees, additional fuel expenses, new taxes or fees resulting from governmental regulations, changes in the designated disposal location, or new charges associated with disposing of materials—the City shall, following negotiation with Rumpke and approval by City Council, adjust the unit cost in an amount commensurate with Rumpke’s increased per‑unit operating cost.
The second reading of the newly proposed budget will take place at 7 p.m. at the Ludlow Municipal Center on Elm Street on July 23. The meeting is open to the public.
