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Sustainability committee recommends no citywide paid yard‑waste pickup in Rumpke contract renewal; drop‑off options suggested
Summary
City staff and the Sustainability Commission reviewed a proposed renewal with Rumpke that would have added an optional, billed yard‑waste collection. After discussing low projected utilization, the committee recommended deferring citywide yard‑waste service and exploring local drop‑off alternatives.
City staff and the Sustainability Commission reported back on a proposed Rumpke contract renewal and a possible optional yard‑waste collection program during the meeting.
City Administrator Matt Peebles and Councilmember Jordan Bennett (who reported the Sustainability Commission's recommendation) said the commission reviewed pricing and utilization estimates for a separate yard‑waste collection line. The initial price discussed earlier had been $5 per month year‑round; Rumpke later offered a reduced option of $2 to $2.50 per month for an every‑other‑week collection window. Peebles said the committee noted the projected utilization rate was under 25 percent in prior pilot data.
Sustainability commissioners recommended against adding a universal citywide paid yard‑waste collection to the contract at this time. Instead, they suggested the city work to identify convenient drop‑off sites or other voluntary options for residents who want the service, and reassess yard‑waste collection in a future multiyear contract cycle.
Peebles also told council that the renegotiated contract represented a 13 percent increase over five years (about 2.6 percent per year) and that the contract modification authorized staff to implement the revised terms starting Oct. 1. The administration said it would prepare resident education explaining the contract changes and expected billing impacts.
No formal council vote to add a yard‑waste line item occurred; the council accepted the commission's feedback and directed staff to remove the item from the old‑business list for the current meeting and consider drop‑off or targeted pilot programs ahead of the next contract negotiation.
The Sustainability Commission's next meeting was scheduled for Sept. 3 to continue discussing waste and related programs.
