Will rates change with Middletown trash contract extension?

Middletown will extend its waste collection and recycling contract for another two years, but with no rate increases

City Council heard the first reading of an ordinance to extend its contract with Rumpke of Ohio for through 2019. The city’s current contract expires at the end of the year.

MORE: Middletown 2018 budget: Staff raises, sewer rate hike

Scott Tadych, the city’s public works and utilities director, recommended Middletown award the two-year contract extension with Rumpke and said all residential waste collection and recycling services would remain the same. He said the alternative would be to award a one-year contract and re-bid the entire contract in 2018.

Tadych said the current residential waste collection fee is $15 a month and that would remain the same through 2019. However, the rental fee for trash carts will increase from $2.00 to $2.50 per month.He said this is a voluntary additional service offered to residents.

The city raised its trash/recycling fee from $14.25 to $15 per month this year, because environmental regulators are requiring additional methane monitoring at the city's landfill.

The city’s total cost for the 2018 option year will be $3.24 million and the total cost for the 2019 option year will be $3.29 million, Tadych said. He said the total costs also includes the estimated cost for trash cart rentals passed on to the users. Tadych said the expenditures have been incorporated into 2018 and 2019’s financial plans.

City officials said the current three-year contract that was approved in November 2014 included two one-year extensions. Council is expected to give its final approval at its Nov. 21 meeting.

Rumpke services roughly 95 percent of Butler County communities.

About the Author