NORTH ROYALTON – What was intended to be a community Q&A detailing the ins and outs of the city’s enhanced and now automated recycling program, quickly escalated into one of the most heated meetings in recent years, so combative police presence was requested for a similar meeting April 22.
Out of the 45 residents, almost all seniors, who attended April 17, several shouted complaints about the new 64-gallon recycling bin part of the city’s new, five-year contract with Rumpke Waste and Recycling Services council recently OK’d. Many vehemently opposed even receiving one, threatening not to use them, but also to confront deliveries in their yard in some cases or accept them but leave them on city hall’s doorstep.
Automation the new trend
Sarah Mathews, Rumpke’s municipal sales representative, explained this program was chosen because full automation is the direction the industry is headed. Only two contractors bid on the manual rubbish pick up portion of the city’s contract, whereas five bid on full automation, Council President Larry Antoskiewicz said.
The city opted to keep rubbish collection manual and begin automation solely with recycling. The intent is to bolster recycling numbers, which are at 17 percent. Each ton spared from the garbage and recycled instead, decreases the city’s cost to dispose of residents’ trash, thereby saving taxpayer dollars.
Residents are not charged for rubbish or recycling pick up, nor are they charged directly for the bin, or cart, but rather it is part of the city’s package with Rumpke.
“Here in North Royalton, we needed to decrease the litter blowing from recycling and increase recycling capability. The cart provided that. You can still throw out what you like at the curb. We are not decreasing your (rubbish) service, but are increasing your (recycling) service and providing you with a cart,” Mathews said.
“What if we have no room for that container?” someone asked.
“The footprint is approximately the same as the bin you’re using now, it’s just higher,” Mathews said.
Some say no to bins
The meeting soon turned hostile.
“We’re the customer. I’m hearing you’re trying to do all this to make it good for you, what happened to making it good for us?” one man said after reviewing a recycling list of items accepted and not.
“What if I don’t want to receive one?” another asked.
One resident contacted Rumpke and was told they could opt out.
Assistant Law Director Donna Vozar said that’s not the case, stressing the need to try to make this work for the good of the community and environment. If residents do not increase recycling participation, the city, like many others, will likely be forced to charge for trash and recycling eventually.
“City council passed the ordinance for each of these to be taken to each residence. While you might not want to use it, it will be delivered and you will be responsible (for the bin),” she said.
Shouting ensued, and a few officials had some tense exchanges.
Ward 6 Councilman Dan Kasaris, who voted against automation, challenged whether residents must take one by law. But Antoskiewicz reminded this program, which includes a bin for every household, was discussed, voted on and approved by the majority of council.
On that note, one resident said the city would hear from his lawyer.
Kasaris then said the city’s recycling numbers are poor, and residents need to try and make this work if they can for the good of the community and environment, because one day it will be a fee.
“This was a way for it to be at no cost to residents. If you choose not to use it, don’t use it … but they will be delivered,” Vozar added.
“How can you tell us we have to store your container on our property?” a resident said, the room breaking out in applause.
The cart is easier than carrying bins and cuts down on workers’ compensation claims from injuries related to repeated bending and lifting, Mathews said.
Others continued to argue why they cannot physically use a bin.
“We are not trying to make this difficult,” Vozar said. “If you have issues, call the service department and if we can, we will try to accommodate you if have unusual circumstances or a medical situation. We will work with you.”
But inconvenience is not reason enough, officials said.
Antoskiewicz said 40 out of 59 communities in the county have automated services, and almost all are both rubbish and recycling.
“I don’t believe our problems are any different than what those other communities have taken on. Let’s work through it. If we save the kind of money we think we can by recycling, it opens it up to do more in the city because it loosens up more money in the budget,” he said.
Defiance continued
Vozar said by not taking a bin, residents are basically saying “charge me a fee.”
“Charge me a fee,” one man said. “I’m good with it.”
Ward 2 Councilman Gary Petrusky, who also opposed automation, mentioned residents confronting drivers in their yards during bin arrivals and what would be done.
“If there is going to be a confrontation, I want to stop that from happening,” he said.
But some officials viewed this as inciting conflict.
Mathews, believing her drivers were being threatened, intervened.
“I don’t take it lightly,” she said. “We are civilized human beings. We should be able to work together to pick up your trash.”
Not all were opposed.
“We are creating a lot of garbage and running out of space. Accept the (bin) you got coming, you’ll have another one in five years,” one resident said, alluding to automated rubbish.
Mayor Bob Stefanik could not attend the first due to a wake, but later told council during its council meeting he was disturbed by what he heard. He received a phone call from a resident who said his councilman told him to come to the meeting April 22 and complain.
“I found that very, very concerning. The horse is out of the barn for recycling. Anyone who had issues should have brought those issues up back when it was voted on. You should accept the vote and move on,” Stefanik said. “And don’t feel like this vocal minority represents the majority of the city.”
He estimates 98-99 percent of people are on board with the bins.
The second meeting was more subdued.