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New Albany reviews consortium bid and 2025 waste‑diversion numbers; board discusses targets
Summary
City staff briefed the board on a consortium procurement for trash and recycling services (with optional food‑waste and volume‑based options) and presented 2025 diversion figures; members debated a realistic diversion goal and possible pilot expansions.
City staff told the Sustainability Advisory Board on March 11 that a consortium bid for resident collection services (trash, recycling, optional curbside food‑waste collection and optional volume‑based trash pricing) has been published; a bidders’ meeting is scheduled for April and communities will make selections after a public opening later in the spring.
Staff also presented 2025 waste‑diversion numbers. Board members discussed whether the December/annual diversion—characterized in conversation as roughly 28–32%—should be the baseline for an aspirational target. "According to the EPA, on average, 32% is diverted," an official noted during the discussion, and members weighed goals ranging from a modest 35% to more ambitious targets like 40% while cautioning that large jumps take time and sustained programs.
The city is considering pilot options (curbside food‑waste collection citywide tested in nearby communities such as Bexley and Upper Arlington) that staff said could raise diversion over several years; staff also flagged that Bexley’s addendum prompted separate exhibits in the consortium documents. Members suggested doing comparative research to set a meaningful, locally achievable goal before launching a public campaign.
Staff also announced the spring waste collection event for Saturday, April 18, 8 a.m.–noon (paper shredding, household hazardous waste and e‑waste on‑site) and requested volunteers for two‑hour shifts. The board discussed logistics for lanes, signage, police traffic control and potential additional vendor partnerships for household‑goods diversion.
Next steps: staff will continue procurement work with the consortium schedule, revisit diversion metrics to recommend a goal informed by peer communities, and refine plans for the April collection event.
