Montville seeks $250,000 EPA grant
Money would establish curbside recycling throughout township
Photo by GLENN WOJCIAK Solid Waste Coordinator Beth Biggins-Ramer describes to Montville Township trustees how state grants can help townships establish curbside recycling programs.
MONTVILLE – Township trustees have enlisted the help of the Medina County Solid Waste District to develop a plan that could limit the number of residential trash haulers in the township, increase recycling and reduce the monthly cost to homeowners.
Trustees voted Jan. 24 to authorize Solid Waste Coordinator Beth Biggins-Ramer to apply for a $250,000 state grant on their behalf that could help launch the new program. Biggins-Ramer told township trustees communities who launch new programs to improve trash collection and expand recycling programs are eligible for Community Development grants offered by the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency.
Biggins-Ramer said she would write the grant application on behalf of the township but had only a week to do so since the deadline for applications is Feb. 3.
However, she said that should not be a problem because the application need only outline the general scope of the plan Montville would initiate.
More details about the recycling program would be required in April when Montville officials learn if their grant request is approved. If it is, township officials would then have to write detailed bid specifications for trash haulers interested in operating the new program.
Those specifications would likely give one hauler exclusive rights to pick up all residential trash in the township as well as recyclable materials placed in a separate cart.
The hauler would also be required to print brochures and other material as part of an education campaign to inform residents about the new service.
The EPA grant money would presumably be used to purchase two 95-gallon carts for each household in the township – one for trash; the other for recyclables.
It’s presumed the grant money will help reduce the costs of implementing the program and the amount bidders would charge customers for the service.
Biggins-Ramer said similar trash and curbside recycling programs are in place in other Northeast Ohio communities that are about the same size as Montville. Residential customers in those towns pay $15-$18 per month for trash and recycling pickup. Montville residents now pay nearly double that in some parts of the township.
Biggins-Ramer said a new trash and recycling policy offers other benefits to the township. Among them are reducing the number of days trash is placed in front of houses each week and limiting the number of trucks that come down a street each week.
The current situation allows residents to contract with any refuse hauler they choose and at least five different companies now make weekly trips through the township picking up garbage and recyclables.
“Cutting down the noise and the wear and tear on our roads from all those garbage trucks would be a big benefit,” said Township Trustee Jeff Brandon.
“I think this is a great opportunity for us,” said Trustee Sally Albrecht. “The cost should come in at a lower price than our residents are now paying and this will give us an opportunity to do some creative things to help the township and increase recycling.”
Biggins-Ramer projects Montville could receive the grant in April and solicits bids from trash haulers in July. It that happens, the new trash policy could go into effect as early as September. Biggins-Ramer said she would continue to provide technical support on each step of the process.
Fire contract
In other business, township trustees authorized payment of $230,000 to the city of Medina as part of its contract to provide fire protection in Montville during 2017. Terms of the contract also call for Montville to make quarterly payments to Medina which are based on the number of emergency calls the city answers in the township.
Trustees voted Jan. 24 to authorize Solid Waste Coordinator Beth Biggins-Ramer to apply for a $250,000 state grant on their behalf that could help launch the new program. Biggins-Ramer told township trustees communities who launch new programs to improve trash collection and expand recycling programs are eligible for Community Development grants offered by the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency.
Biggins-Ramer said she would write the grant application on behalf of the township but had only a week to do so since the deadline for applications is Feb. 3.
However, she said that should not be a problem because the application need only outline the general scope of the plan Montville would initiate.
More details about the recycling program would be required in April when Montville officials learn if their grant request is approved. If it is, township officials would then have to write detailed bid specifications for trash haulers interested in operating the new program.
Those specifications would likely give one hauler exclusive rights to pick up all residential trash in the township as well as recyclable materials placed in a separate cart.
The hauler would also be required to print brochures and other material as part of an education campaign to inform residents about the new service.
The EPA grant money would presumably be used to purchase two 95-gallon carts for each household in the township – one for trash; the other for recyclables.
It’s presumed the grant money will help reduce the costs of implementing the program and the amount bidders would charge customers for the service.
Biggins-Ramer said similar trash and curbside recycling programs are in place in other Northeast Ohio communities that are about the same size as Montville. Residential customers in those towns pay $15-$18 per month for trash and recycling pickup. Montville residents now pay nearly double that in some parts of the township.
Biggins-Ramer said a new trash and recycling policy offers other benefits to the township. Among them are reducing the number of days trash is placed in front of houses each week and limiting the number of trucks that come down a street each week.
The current situation allows residents to contract with any refuse hauler they choose and at least five different companies now make weekly trips through the township picking up garbage and recyclables.
“Cutting down the noise and the wear and tear on our roads from all those garbage trucks would be a big benefit,” said Township Trustee Jeff Brandon.
“I think this is a great opportunity for us,” said Trustee Sally Albrecht. “The cost should come in at a lower price than our residents are now paying and this will give us an opportunity to do some creative things to help the township and increase recycling.”
Biggins-Ramer projects Montville could receive the grant in April and solicits bids from trash haulers in July. It that happens, the new trash policy could go into effect as early as September. Biggins-Ramer said she would continue to provide technical support on each step of the process.
Fire contract
In other business, township trustees authorized payment of $230,000 to the city of Medina as part of its contract to provide fire protection in Montville during 2017. Terms of the contract also call for Montville to make quarterly payments to Medina which are based on the number of emergency calls the city answers in the township.