City Seeks Monopoly on Garbage Collections

The City Council is considering a measure that would force the 775 homeowners who use Waste Management – the only private residential hauler left in the community – to switch over to city garbage crews, who already serve about 14,500 customers.

Robert Leonard, the city's sanitation superintendent, said most of Waste Management's remaining residences are holdouts from a large route that was once serviced by a Falls-based garbage collector who sold the business to Waste Management several years ago.

The city's bill for full service is $15.87 for those who participate in a recycling program – compared to $18.45 charged by Waste Management.

Because the city's rate is lower, Leonard said, it has been chipping away at Waste Management's numbers for some time.

“We feel it's a losing proposition for them (Waste Management) with just a customer here and there,” he said.

Those remaining Waste Management customers, Leonard said, will help the city keep its own expenses down.

“We're driving by these houses anyway,” he said.

Waste Management spokeswoman Kathy Trent said the situation is being reviewed and declined to comment further.

The move comes as the city is engaged in negotiations with Waste Management over how much it might cost to help persuade the company and Akron to abandon a bid to expand the Hardy Road Landfill, which borders the Falls.

Falls Mayor Don Robart said he doesn't think his city's bid to take over all residential refuse collection will affect the talks. He noted the city is not going after the company's more lucrative business customers.

Robart said the negotiations with Waste Management to reach a potential dollar amount to settle the landfill dispute are going well.

“I think we will get this thing wrapped up,” he said.

The council's Public Affairs Committee will meet at 6:15 this evening to discuss the proposal to take over Waste Management's remaining customers. If eventually approved by the council, the switch could take place as early as March.

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Council President Kathy Hummel said she hopes those residents who have any reservations about switching to the city will express their views.

“This is a major policy change,” she said. – The (Akron) Beacon Journal