Council reviews trash contract options; staff recommends Rumpke bid with lower quarterly rate

City staff told council Monday that a consortium bid from Rumpke would deliver mandatory cart curbside service and in-house city billing for roughly $55.37 per household per quarter, about $21.66 less per quarter than the proposed one-year Republic extension that would preserve more specialized services.

Beth (Service Director) said the city sought two paths: extend the existing Republic contract for one year while bringing billing in house, or join the Southwest Ohio Regional Refuse Consortium results and accept a Rumpke proposal. Under Republic's quoted one-year extension, the typical quarterly cart service would total $77.03 after adding a $5 administrative fee for city billing. Rumpke's five-year proposal quoted $50.37 quarterly plus the same $5 administrative fee for a $55.37 total. Staff noted Rumpke's price advantage came from CNG-fueled, cart-content-only routes and operational efficiencies.

Beth summarized service tradeoffs: Republic's proposal preserves hand pickup, door service for certain residents, and other specialized options; Rumpke's lower-cost proposal standardizes service (cart-only curbside, one bulk item per week without call-in) and would change some collection days. She said the Rumpke bid also explicitly includes curbside leaf collection in bags, dumpster pricing for parks/facilities, roll-off pricing for spring cleanup and RTA shelter servicing. Rumpke proposed a three-year contract with two one-year options and an alternate five-year offer with better rates; staff presented the five-year pricing.

Council discussed implementation timing and lead time for equipment and drivers. Staff recommended awarding a contract in June to allow a November implementation plan and a January 1 service start if the city moved to Rumpke. One councilmember recused himself from the discussion out of caution because of a family relationship with Rumpke employees; a second councilmember asked that absent members be briefed before a final vote. The city manager said staff would prepare a resolution to award Rumpke for council action at the next meeting but would proceed to the Republic extension only if council did not approve Rumpke.

Ending: Staff to prepare a resolution to award a contract (recommended: Rumpke) for council consideration at the next meeting; timing is designed to allow a January 1 start date if approved.