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Richmond Heights council adopts Cuyahoga County solid-waste plan; district says no new fees
Summary
On second reading the Richmond Heights City Council unanimously approved a resolution adopting the Cuyahoga County Solid Waste District—s 15-year solid waste management plan. The district said the plan adds programs — including more litter crews and organics work — and will not raise the local $2-per-ton fee.
Richmond Heights City Council on second reading approved Resolution 79-2025 to adopt the Cuyahoga County Solid Waste District—s solid waste management plan, the city announced during the committee-of-the-whole meeting.
The plan, presented to the council by Beth Biggins Ramer, executive director of the Cuyahoga County Solid Waste District, lays out a rolling 15-year master plan of programs and targets the district will pursue if ratified by member jurisdictions and approved by the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency. "We are an enterprise fund, we are self funded, and there will be no new fees in this plan," Biggins Ramer said during the presentation.
The plan document described in the presentation totals 329 pages with an executive summary the district provided to local jurisdictions. Biggins Ramer told the council the district intends to draw on its fund balance to launch new services and that the district—s current generation fee is $2 per ton; she said that remains unchanged under the plan.
Why it matters: Under Ohio statute and Ohio EPA oversight, the district must secure ratification by member communities representing 60% of the county—s population (including the county—s largest political subdivision) before submitting the plan package back to the EPA for final approval. The district expects to visit member communities through an outreach period that ends Aug. 10 to collect local resolutions supporting the plan, then compile the documentation for the EPA.
Key elements: The district said the plan keeps existing programs — household hazardous waste collection, a scrap-tire collection, monthly drop-off for specialty wastes — and adds proposals such as a textile-analysis study, expanded organics and yard-waste efforts, and an expanded litter-removal program. Biggins Ramer said the district currently sponsors two litter crews and is proposing a third crew plus a hotline to allow jurisdictions to report high-priority hotspots for more nimble pickup.
Funding and timing: Biggins Ramer said the district expects to spend more than current annual revenue for an initial period and will use fund balance to pay start-up costs for new services. She said the district—s budgeted revenue includes the $2-per-ton generation fee paid within the county; the plan itself does not create a new local fee.
Council members raised practical questions about litter and hotspots after the recent opening of a Meijer store serving multiple nearby communities. Biggins Ramer said the district—s contractor conducts scheduled runs through member communities at least twice a year and that the district can add a hotspot to the contractor—s route schedule.
Votes at a glance (formal votes recorded during the committee meeting): - Resolution 79-2025 (Adopt Solid Waste Management Plan) — outcome: approved (unanimous roll-call: Jordan, Justice, Lewis, Nelson, Robinson, Silver, Pursue; mover/second: not specified in record). This was recorded as second reading and adopted at committee. - Resolution 90-3-2025 (Cuyahoga County CDBG application for community center AV upgrades, ~$150,000 with ~10% local match) — outcome: moved to council for consideration (unanimous roll-call recorded). Mover/second: not specified. - Resolution 95-2025 (Purchase battery-powered smoke ejector for fire division, $6,000) — outcome: recommended to council / vote recorded in committee as favorable (unanimous roll-call recorded); amount provided in the presentation. - Resolution 92-2025 (Disposal of obsolete City Hall property — computers/printers) — outcome: moved to council (unanimous roll-call recorded). - Resolution 96-2025 (Adopt July/August council meeting schedule; emergency) — outcome: approved at committee (unanimous roll-call recorded).
What the council did not finalize: The district presentation is one step in the statutory ratification process. The district must collect supporting resolutions from member communities that together represent at least 60% of the county population before the plan package is returned to the Ohio EPA for a final finding and order.
The council recorded no dissenting votes on the committee actions listed above. The city will receive the district—s materials (executive summary and plan) for its records and next steps on ratification and any subsequent local actions.
