Curbside recycling was the hot topic at the Tiffin City Council Streets, Sidewalks and Sewers Committee Monday, although the committee said they needed more facts before moving forward with any legislation.
"We'd like additional information from surrounding communities who don't contract with a single hauler," Chairman Rich Cline said.
Ottawa, Sandusky, Seneca County Joint Solid Waste Management typically provides cities with a combined trash and recycling service, but does not offer more than one type of trash pick-up service.
Tiffin has eight trash haulers.
OSS District Director Tim Wasserman discussed with the committee the possibility of dividing the city into two zones and providing two haulers.
"I can talk to some consultants and get back to you," he said.
Surrounding cities that use a single trash hauler through OSS are Port Clinton, Fremont, Oak Harbor, Genoa, Huron and Perkins Township.
The average cost for these areas is $9-16 per month.
Councilman Joe Hartzell said it is important to balance cost savings with local competition. He said the city could lose money with the program.
"We may be putting recyclers out of business by using curbside recycling, and if we do that, we might be taking away income from Seneca Core," Hartzell said, referring to the company which buys various car parts and metals.
Cardboard packaging facilities in Tiffin also could lose business, he said.
Although Mayor Aaron Montz was in favor of moving ahead with the program, a motion was not taken to move ahead.
"This is just another way to save the city money right now," Montz said. "This is not going to raise rates."
Wasserman said the city pays $18,000 annually for recycling at Hedges-Boyer Park.
"The city would receive an additional $8,500 in funding," Wasserman said.
Wasserman gave several points to support using a combined trash and curbside recycling program with only two haulers.
"It will be fewer trucks running on city streets, with less maintenance on streets," he said. "It will increase the city's image and it will be more attractive to people moving in the area."
In other news, City Administrator Deb Reamer said she has been receiving a large volume of calls concerning trash receptacles sitting at the curbside for days.
"My recommendation is to come up with an enforcement plan," Law Director Brent Howard said.
Howard told Reamer she could request trash haulers provide customer lists to determine who are repeat offenders.
Howard said it is a misdemeanor to leave trash out for more than 18 hours before or after a residence is serviced.
