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Toledo signs solid waste service agreement with Lucas County
Republic Services to provide collection services under new agreement
July 5, 2011: Toledo Mayor Michael P. Bell and Lucas County Commission President Pete Gerken today signed a regional service sharing agreement to provide refuse and recycling services to the city of Toledo through the Lucas County Solid Waste Management District. The County will contract with Republic Services, formerly Allied Waste, to provide collection services.
Discussions between the city and county began in 2010 as both entities looked for opportunities to consolidate services and reduce taxpayer costs across the region. The move is anticipated to save the city of Toledo $2.8 million in 2011. The program will be cost and revenue neutral for Lucas County.
“This is a move in the right direction to ensuring we are providing services in the most efficient fashion for our taxpayers,” said Mayor Bell. “Working with the county to provide shared services also provides some structural relief for the city’s budget without adding to the county’s financial burden. I appreciate Commissioner Gerken’s leadership and foresight in working as a partner with the city to make this happen.”
“This is a positive step towards increasing efficiency and sharing services between the county and the city,” said Commissioner Pete Gerken. “This partnership has the potential to bring more effective and wider service to the citizens of Toledo and Lucas County.”
Residents can expect few changes to their service as a result of the regionalized system. One noticeable benefit will be the elimination of the LEAP Forward program currently used to address collection following city holidays. Independence Day was the final LEAP Forward holiday to be observed. Future collection will be delayed one day with Saturday collection in weeks when a major holiday is observed. As the transition occurs a list of the six major holidays observed will be available on the city of Toledo website.
My Republic Rewards will be another added benefit for residents. The program will reward citizens who recycle with points that can be redeemed for coupons and vouchers to local merchants and restaurants. Republic Services will manage My Republic Rewards, powered by RecycleBank, and will begin registering residents for participation in the program this summer. Points will accumulate based on household recycling collections beginning September 1, 2011.
The transition of collection services from the city to Republic Services is slated to begin on Monday, July 11, 2011 and will be phased in beginning with recycling routes and then refuse. The entire collection system is expected to be managed by Republic Services by September 1.
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