SEATTLE (Recycling Monster): Vince Crawford of Waste Management made a presentation before Richmond Heights City Council, detailing the possibility of adding curbside recycling to its existing contract. The city has a running contract with Waste Management for garbage collection services. It must be noted that Richmond Heights is the only community in Cuyahoga County that does not have curbside recycling.
The monthly fees charged by Waste Management for garbage collection is $14.93 per household. The addition of recycling collection would add only 58 cents per month, thus making it $15.51 per household per month. At this rate, the yearly fees is estimated at $44,000 for the entire city households.
As per contract, the city is scheduled to pay $600,000 for garbage collection in 2024. The addition of recycling collection would thus make it $644,000. The recycling cost will see an increase of 4% each in the second, third and fourth years. The city will have an option to extend the service for additional two years.
Councilman Mark Alexander backed the proposal and urged the Council to consider including recycling in the new deal. However, Mayor Kim Thomas said that a final decision would be taken only after listening to the opinion of residents.