Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Solid Waste topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Pepper Pike council approves new recycling and trash contracts as processing costs rise
Summary
The Pepper Pike City Council voted to authorize new recycling-processing and solid-waste service contracts after staff warned processing rates have increased and recycling now costs more to handle than regular trash. Council approved the resolutions by roll call and discussed outreach to reduce contamination.
Pepper Pike — The City Council on Aug. 28 approved a two-year recycling-processing contract with two one-year options and a separate solid-waste service contract after staff warned both agreements come with higher processing fees. Council adopted Resolution 2024-30 and the related trash contract by roll call votes.
The city’s public-works representative, Jim, told council the recycling processor raised its rate and that the consortium-organized contract now pushes recycling costs above regular solid-waste disposal. "We've run 127 tons which is $113,000," Jim said, and the new pricing will increase the bill “about $4 on that” — roughly $20,000 a year at current volumes.
Council members asked how much of the city’s material is actually recycled and whether contractors reliably process what they accept. Jim said contamination — items such as pizza boxes and nonrecyclable styrofoam in the blue bags — is a major factor, and that processing facilities differ in what plastics they accept. "A lot of it's contaminated," he said, noting hand sorting at facilities raises costs.
Officials also discussed separating paper into green bins (which the city still receives as a higher-value stream) to reduce processing expenses. Jim said some paper collection streams still generate revenue but cardboard and other materials have variable market value.
On the trash contract, council was told the current tipping fee is about $44 per ton and will rise to about $46 per ton, with an estimated annual tonnage of roughly 1,700 tons and a current annual cost around $72,000. Council members noted the city recently changed vendors (from BFI to the new contractor) and discussed exploring food-waste composting programs to help contain rising disposal costs.
Council approved the recycling resolution and the solid-waste contract by roll call votes. The council also asked staff to continue public education and newsletter reminders about acceptable recycling materials to reduce contamination and processing expense.
Next steps: staff will finalize contracts under the authorized terms and continue public outreach on contamination and paper-separation options.
