Some Trash Collection Rates Decreasing In Avon

AVON, OH — The City of Avon announced it signed a memorandum of understanding with Republic Services, its trash collection contractor. Officials believe the agreement will save residents and local organizations money over the next five years.

“We asked ourselves a simple but very important question: Are the residents getting the best deal possible?” said Avon Mayor Bryan Jensen. The answer to Jensen's question is now this: yes, if you agree with city officials.

Here's why city officials believe they got a good deal. Starting in May, households that use a 96-gallon trash container and a 64-gallon recycling container will see a $10 decrease in their annual rates. Residents that use 64-gallon trash and recycling containers will see no change in their rates until May 2021.

All trash and recycling rates will increase 3.5 percent starting May 1, 2021. Those rates will then be locked in until 2024, the city said. As part of the agreement, collection day will move from Friday to Monday.

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The memorandum of understanding also says that collection services for municipal buildings and the Avon Schools will be at no cost for the duration of the agreement. Republic Services also said it would eliminate a $111,480 annual supplemental recycling fee currently paid by the city.

Before signing the memorandum of understanding, Avon officials explored several alternative trash and recycling collection scenarios, including joining the Lorain County Solid Waste Recycling Consortium.

However, officials said the lowest bid through the consortium would have still been a rate increase of $80 for residents.

“We did our due diligence, and in the end, the answer was clear that we should stay with Republic,” said City Council President Craig Witherspoon.

On a related recycling note, on March 1, 2019, residents will be able to recycle unwanted textiles and small household items by bagging them and leaving them at the curb on collection day. The free service is the result of a partnership between the City of Avon and Simple Recycling.

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