Montgomery County solid-waste plan would raise fees, require tarps and expand food-waste pilot

John Lanier, manager of Community Outreach and Education for Montgomery County Environmental Services, told the Trotwood City Council that the county’s updated solid waste management plan would require new revenue and operational changes beginning in 2026.

Lanier said the district is proposing a change to the per‑ton fee that funds recycling, litter prevention grants and education programs. "The current rate is $3 a ton. In 2026, if it is approved by a biweekly agent, that amount will go to $2.65 per ton," Lanier said, and added the plan estimates the typical household (about one ton of garbage a year) would see a roughly 65¢ change annually. He also said the district’s policy committee recommended a roughly 6% increase in the fee each year thereafter to sustain a 20‑year funding plan.

Lanier told council members the district operates grants and programs that affect cities and residents, including about $300,000 in grants to municipalities for waste reduction, a household hazardous‑waste program at the transfer station, styrofoam recycling and an education center that serves thousands of students annually. "We are looking at expanding to food waste collection for our residential citizens," Lanier said, describing a pilot that would place drop‑off stations and collect material for composting to be returned to community gardens.

The food‑waste project is currently tied to external grant funding, Lanier said. He described an application to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for a $5,000,000 grant covering 32 locations and about 20 partners; if that grant is not secured the district said it would pursue a plan B using its own funds and applications to the Ohio EPA. "If we don't get this grant, we have a plan B that will use some of our own funding," Lanier said.

The plan would add an operational requirement at the county transfer station: any vehicle entering the facility must have a tarp covering its load. "Any vehicle coming into Montgomery County Transfer Station will now be required to have a tarp over that. They cannot enter our facility if they do not have a tarp to cover their garbage," Lanier said, adding the rule likely would not take effect until spring 2026 and that first violations may receive warnings before fines are imposed.

Lanier said the district raised fees previously (a change noted from $2 to $3 a ton in 2010) and that reserves have been used to cover deficits; the updated plan is intended to show 20 years of funding. He described other prospective investments enabled by the revenue change, including a densifier to increase drop‑off access at satellite sites, upgrades to the environmental education center and continuing the district’s municipal grants program.

Council members and residents asked programmatic and operational questions about partnership, timing and enforcement. Lanier offered to coordinate with the city manager on supplies and volunteer trailers from the Keep Montgomery County Beautiful program and noted the county will run the food‑waste collection if the pilot is funded, leaving the sites under county control.

No formal council action on the district plan or the fee proposal was taken during the meeting; Lanier presented the plan and answered questions.

Lanier and county staff emphasized the plan remains contingent on further approvals, grant outcomes and an outreach period to educate haulers and residents before new rules go into effect.