Liberty to alter trash collection

By John W. Goodwin Jr.

Trustees will likely vote on the new agreement today.

LIBERTY — Trustees are contemplating changing the way residents unload their trash.

Trustees will likely vote on a contract with Allied Waste Management for the company to serve as the exclusive trash hauler in the township. There are now three trash haulers operating in the township: Allied Waste, City Disposal and Waste Management.

Trustee Jodi Stoyak said officials are looking to use a part of Ohio Revised Code that allows townships to create a trash district and designate an exclusive trash hauler for that district. Trustees will meet at 4:30 p.m. today.

Stoyak said going to one trash collection company instead of the three will mean less noise from trucks collecting trash at different times and different days, less pollution and less damage to township roads.

“The streets issue is a big one because repairing the streets is expensive and that comes out of our general fund,” she said.

Township Administrator Pat Ungaro said the township advertised for bids for trash pickup over a period of several weeks and Allied Waste was the only company to submit a bid. Allied Waste is offering to do the service for a monthly charge of $15.43 per resident for weekly trash collection.

According to Stoyak, township residents are paying between $12 per month and $26 per month for weekly trash collection depending on what company they use.

The rate being offered by Allied Waste will not change for the next three years.

Stoyak said the three-year fixed rate is something that must be taken into consideration because trash haulers can raise their rates at any given time to cover gas and other expenses. With the cost of gasoline, she said, rates were bound to go up in the very near future.

“Our rates with this company will be frozen for three years. After three years, we go out for bid again and make them compete,” said Stoyak. “There are going to be some people who are not happy, but it is important to remember this three- year locked-in price.”

Township residents can also now pay for trash collection by the bag — something that Allied Waste, if approved, will continue. Stoyak said the price for per-bag service will be $2.50.

Stoyak said another important part of the proposal is weekly recycling service provided by Allied Waste. Each resident will receive a 32-gallon bin for recycling purposes should the contract be approved.

Ungaro said the new system would be a financial savings to residents. He said it will also cut down on truck congestion on township roads, noise, and trash being set out on various days of the week.

“Everything here would be done in the same day. A truck will come around and pick up trash, then a second truck will come around and pick up the recycling stuff,” said Ungaro.

Should trustees approve the contract via a majority vote, Allied Waste will be the exclusive trash collection company here and all residents would have to use their services. Stoyak said any other trash collection company who continues to do business in the township could be fined.

Stoyak said Allied Waste has also agreed to collect all township government trash at no cost. She said that part of the agreement would mean an additional savings of $11,000 to taxpayers.

jgoodwin@vindy.com