The future of trash collection in Elyria

You get what you pay for. When it comes to Elyria's Sanitation Department, residents like the service even though it costs them more than nearby communities that have private trash collection. That much was evident in Elyrians' response to a recent study that examined privatizing the city's trash collection. Bids from Republic Services, Rumpke Waste and Recycling, and the Kimble Company showed privatization would be cheaper for residents. All came in below the $33.28 per month that residential customers pay in Elyria. (Those who qualify for homestead exemptions pay a discounted rate of $24.87 per month.) Cost, however, isn't everything. Councilman Chad Schneider, D-at large, told us this week that he had received more calls regarding the future of the Sanitation Department than any other city issue during his time on Council. Those calls, he said, overwhelmingly favored keeping trash collection in-house. It's understandable why residents like the Sanitation Department. Bulk trash is collected every week. City sanitation workers help clean up after storms and the Apple Festival, and are known for personalized service, including hauling trash to the curb for elderly residents. Several Council members we talked to acknowledged that while the rates for a five-year private contract would be cheaper, the monthly cost likely would climb after the initial contract ran out. By then, Elyria would have dismantled the Sanitation Department and sold off its garbage trucks. All of which explains why Council members have been generally supportive of keeping the Sanitation Department intact. Still, the future of Elyria's trash collection was worthy of review, though some Council members likely would have preferred the topic to have waited until after next month's election. The study, conducted by Rea Business Advisors, was requested by outgoing Council President Vic Stewart, D-at large. (Stewart didn't seek reelection this year.) "I just wanted to look at it," Stewart said Monday. "I want to compare what other communities do in this county, and I think that is fair. I think that is what you would expect of your leaders — your officials here that you elected and who represent you — to see what is out there." That's a reasonable position considering that the study showed that the Sanitation Department, which has about $1 million cash on hand, will burn through any carryover by early 2028 if rates remain unchanged. Rea also projected that the department would be $5.1 million in debt by 2031 unless something changed. That's not sustainable, which is why rate increases will be necessary. Council already approved raising the monthly fee by $5 this year, and the report from Rea suggested two potential rate hikes to keep the department solvent. Were Council to approve a 3 percent annual increase over the next six years, the Sanitation Department would make money for two years and delay expending its cash balance until 2030, the report said. A 5 percent annual increase over the next six years, meanwhile, would allow the Sanitation Department to make money and end 2031 with a cash balance of more than $2.6 million, the report said. Popular as the Sanitation Department is, rate increases might prove unpopular, although several Council members said residents had told them they were willing to pay more to maintain the current level of service. Two other factors could impact Council's decision. For starters, the salaries of 11 administration officials are partially paid by the Sanitation Department on the theory that those officials do work for multiple departments. Moving those officials' partial salaries out of the Sanitation Department's budget would free up some money, but it would increase pressure elsewhere. Councilman Phil Tolllet, D-at large, said most of that pressure would fall on the city's general fund. The city also needs to address issues with its recycling program. Mayor Kevin Brubaker said recycling has become a burden for the city because some residents treat their recycling bins as "an extra trash" can. Trash contaminates the recycling loads hauled to Republic's landfill and recycling center in New Russia Township. Republic charges $100 per ton of recyclables, but it tacks on an additional $70 fee for every ton contaminated by 30 percent or more of non-recyclable material. (The city pays $59.59 per ton of trash dropped off at the landfill.) Better education about what can be recycled might help, but there's no guarantee that would fully solve the problem of contaminated recycling loads. Although we would prefer the city to maintain its home recycling pickup, we were intrigued by a suggestion to replace it with hubs where residents could drop off recyclables. Yes, participation in recycling might drop, but those who make the effort to tote their recyclables to a drop-off point are more likely to police what they're dropping off. It's also a better option than completely eliminating recycling in Elyria. Based on Council's discussions thus far, it appears that the Sanitation Department will survive, but residents should brace for changes, including potential rate hikes.