Residents urge University Heights to keep subsidizing Rust Belt Riders composting service

Dozens of residents urged the University Heights City Council on Feb. 17 to continue subsidizing a municipal drop-off composting program operated by Rust Belt Riders, saying the city’s support made the service affordable and tripled local participation.

At the start of public comment, Jeffrey Pearl said the pilot had grown from a few carts to "I believe it was seven or eight" and asked the council to reinstate municipal coverage or expand drop-off locations. "I would like to see that continue and have a second location," he said.

Why it matters: Residents said ending the city subsidy would sharply reduce access for people on fixed incomes and undercut an initiative that diverts organics from landfill, reduces household trash volumes and cuts greenhouse-gas emissions. Multiple speakers gave firsthand examples of trash halving after they began composting and urged the city either to continue the subsidy, find grants to cover costs, or create need-based reduced fees.

Rust Belt Riders’ representative Natalie Shenturk told council that once the service became free in University Heights membership rose from "a little over 100 households to almost 370" and that monthly compost tonnage in the city increased from "about 2,000 pounds a month to now averaging 8,000 pounds per month." She warned that defunding the municipal subsidy would reduce diversion and urged the city to consider sliding-scale fees or other subsidy models.

Several residents pressed for transparent cost figures and analysis. "How much are we as the taxpayers spending for the composting service through Rust Belt Riders?" asked Jerry Cordaro, asking staff to provide the numbers council would need to weigh continued support.

Council response and next steps: Mayor Michelle Weiss said the administration is "actively looking for grants" and will continue discussions with Rust Belt Riders about possible reduced or need-based fees. During the meeting council did not vote to end or extend the subsidy; officials said they would return with more information and might consider grant options or alternative subsidy models before the March 31 date cited by speakers.

What speakers said (selected): "Ending that subsidy would make the $12 a month fee prohibitive for many, especially those on fixed incomes," said Olivia Marshall, a resident. "If we want composting to remain a true community solution, it needs to be affordable and inclusive."

"Once it became free, diversion triples, quadruples," Rust Belt Riders’ representative Natalie Shenturk said. "We went from picking up, I think it was about 2,000 pounds a month to now averaging 8,000 pounds per month."

The council did not take a formal vote on the subsidy at the Feb. 17 meeting; the mayor and staff committed to continued outreach to the organization and to seeking grant opportunities and other options to preserve access.

Ending note: Residents asked for fiscal details and for the council to weigh environmental and equity impacts before the March meeting cycle; Rust Belt Riders offered to work with the city on need-based pricing or reduced membership fees.