City Proposes Yard-Waste Subscription

The city's Department of Public Service recommends a new yard-waste subscription program for weekly residential collection.

By: Donna Willis | NBC4i.com
Published: March 23, 2009

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- The city's Department of Public Service has recommended a new yard-waste subscription program for weekly residential collection.

NBC 4 reported with the FAST FACTS.

Faced with budget challenges, Columbus was unable to renew its $4 million contract with Rumpke of Ohio Inc. for weekly citywide service.

But with approval from city council, the department set aside funds in hopes of determining a way to offer a limited yard-waste program.

The department has recommended an allocation of up to $1 million to Rumpke so the company can provide collection services at a relatively low cost to residents.

Residents would pay Rumpke $49.50 for six months of weekly subscription service.

That breaks down to $1.90 a week.

Columbus residents do not currently pay a fee for yard-waste collection.

“Our residents asked us to find a way to offer some type of yard-waste service,” Public Service Director Mark Kelsey said. “The subscription service we are proposing is the best viable option.”

Kelsey said Public Service considered two other options: providing service to each of the 230,000 households once in the spring and once in the fall, or providing no service.

“We received phone calls and e-mails from about 1,000 residents, and it was clear from what we heard that limited collections would not adequately serve our residents,” Kelsey said, “and no collections were unacceptable.”

Residents would have the option of signing up for six months—renewable for another six months—or for one year of service.

Rumpke would collect up to 15 bags, containers or bundles of yard waste each week from subscribers.

Rumpke said it's prepared to begin offering the service in mid- to late April.

Kelsey said subscription service would satisfy four main concerns:
- It would meet the publics’ demand for weekly collections.
- It would further the city’s green agenda since yard waste is recyclable.
- It would save the city money in tipping fees by keeping yard waste out of the Franklin County landfill.
- It would handle limbs and other debris left on residential property after wind storms.

Councilmember Hearcel Craig has scheduled a public hearing on the yard waste-collection proposal at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, April 2, in City Council Chambers.

The full council is expected to vote on the proposal the following Monday, April 6.