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What: Riverside City Council work session/meeting
When: 6 p.m. Thursday, June 18
Where: Municipal Building, 1791 Harshman Road
Trash collection for Riverside residents could change next year, but to what extent and how much in their monthly fee have yet to be determined by city leaders.
Riverside's contract with the city of Dayton expires at the end of the year, and the city is expected to award a new contract next month, according to City Manager Bryan Chodkowski.
The proposal calls for a five-year contract from 2016-2020, with the option for three one-year renewals.
Currently, the city of Dayton provides unlimited residential solid waste collection for Riverside residents, who pay $12.25 a month. That fee is for weekly curbside service, which includes recycling and yard waste, and bi-monthly bulk pickup. Containers are optional.
“We have a very robust service for a reasonable fee,” Chodkowski said. “Overall, the service has been pretty good. We had some issues a few years back, and they have worked to address those issues on our behalf.”
Riverside City Council discussed the trash collection issue at a recent work session, and talks are to resume at the June 18 work session.
The city is considering several options, including maintaining the current program and schedule, as well as a “pay-as-you-throw” alternate that’s been discussed.
Riverside received bids from the city of Dayton, Waste Management, Rumpke and Allied. Proposed prices vary depending on the option, and if waste and recycling containers are mandated, Chodkowski said.
For example, to maintain the current structure, Dayton proposed the current $12.25 monthly fee for 2016, with the cost increasing $0.25 each year. Rumpke’s was $15.20 for 2016, and increasing to $16.44 by the end of the five-year term.
Allied’s was $11.75 for 2016 and maxing out at $13.23 in 2020. Waste Management did not submit a proposal for the current program, only bidding on the option that allows each vendor to be creative in its trash collection program while also meeting the city’s basic parameters, Chodkowski said.
“We recognize waste hauling fees will increase,” said Chodkowski, citing labor, insurance and fuel costs. “The price for service inevitably will go up.”
Riverside Mayor Bill Flaute said he’s indecisive at this point if bulk pickup should be included in the trash collection package. But he’s fearful that there would be residents who wouldn’t pay the bulk pickup fee, yet still leave bulk waste out to be collected.
“The city of Dayton has done very well for Riverside,” Flaute said. “The citizens do like to have bulk waste whenever they want it, and the recycling part of it is good. I just want to get the best deal for the citizens. I haven’t decided what that is yet.”
When Riverside contracted with Dayton in 2008, the monthly rate was $11. The fee has gradually increased over the years.
Trash collection occurs five days a week, Monday through Friday, and the city expects a similar schedule in the new contract for the 7,000-plus parcels.
Two years ago, Riverside went out to bid for trash collection services and received five bids. The city opted to renew with Dayton and work out the issues that existed at the time, which included container placement, missed collection and trash falling out of the back of trucks.
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