Hilliard staff recommend five-year trash contract with optional curbside food pickup

HILLIARD, Ohio —or the city—iled 03/23/2026—acing residents who pay for curbside service, city staff this week recommended awarding a five-year fixed-price solid-waste contract and offered an optional curbside food-waste pickup that residents would pay for separately.

Kyle Kreidler, a city solid-waste staff member, said Local Waste submitted the lowest compliant bid and staff recommended a five-year, fixed-rate contract at $26.50 per month. "For those 5 years, it's locked in at $26.50 for the entire stretch," Kreidler said.

The recommendation follows a SWACO-coordinated bidding process. Kreidler told council that Local Waste's initial compliant bid was $24.14 per month but the proposed five-year deal reflects administrative costs and other contract terms. "The $24.14 was their bid," he said. "The 26, I believe, 50, has some administrative costs baked into it."

Why it matters: the contract would change which party owns and maintains household carts, add an optional curbside organic pickup, and shift administration of the city's senior discount to the hauler if the contract is awarded as proposed. Under the staff proposal the hauler would purchase the city's existing carts and assume responsibility for replacements going forward; Kreidler said, "the waste hauler is completely in the cart business. We're out of the cart business." That relieves city crews of cart inventory and field repairs.

Optional food-waste pickup and costs

For the first time, staff proposed offering a curbside food-waste pickup as an optional add-on. Under the proposal residents who want weekly curbside organic pickup would pay an additional $15 per month; the hauler would supply a bucket and residents would supply disposable compostable bags. Kreidler said Upper Arlington subsidizes its program, making it free to residents, but Hilliard proposed charging to avoid citywide subsidy costs unless council chooses otherwise. "They kind of encouraged us to guarantee a minimum amount of homes that would participate, but having not done it before, we weren't comfortable with that," he said.

Council members pressed staff on price sensitivity, participation uncertainty and operational details. A council member asked whether the $24.14 figure was a one-year price; Kreidler confirmed it was the bid and distinguished it from the recommended $26.50 fixed rate. Council members also asked about bag types, container sizes and whether the food-waste option could be rebid or separated from the main contract if uptake is low. Staff said the food-waste portion could be separated and rebid later, but bundling with the hauler keeps collection on the same weekly schedule.

Senior-discount code changes

Staff also presented proposed code amendments to clarify and expand the city's senior discount. The presentation referenced the city's code (chapter cited in the staff slide) and proposed three principal moves: allow renters, not just owners, to qualify as the "householder" for the discount; lower eligibility from 65 to 60; and continue a 10% reduction in the household bill. Kreidler said administration of that discount would move from the city to the hauler if the contract proceeds as proposed, but the city would retain authority to place a lien on unpaid bills.

Next steps and meeting outcome

Staff said legislation related to the contract is expected to come before council in early April. There was no formal contract vote at the March 23 meeting; after questions and clarification council adjourned. The meeting record shows the council moved and seconded to adjourn and the chair closed the session on a voice vote.

(Reporting note: direct quotes and program details are drawn from staff presentation and council Q&A during the March 23 Committee of the Whole meeting.)