Trustees authorize trash hauler change

by Melissa Martin

Dec. 3 township trustees meeting

Hinckley’s Board of Trustees voted unanimously to change the township’s single-hauler trash service from Kimble Recycling and Disposal Inc. to Rumpke Waste and Recycling starting in February.

The move comes in response to the end of the township’s previous 5-year trash hauling contract, which is set to expire Jan. 31. 

Trustees decided earlier this year to move forward with signing another single-hauler trash contract after generating feedback from a township survey sent to all residents this past summer. As part of the information gathered, township residents indicated they preferred the single-hauler trash collection service for the township versus having residents contract their own waste hauler.

Since the township implemented the single-hauler waste hauling contract in February 2020, residents have been able to opt-out of the service if they have access to another form of trash collection, including owning a business with a dumpster. Approximately 5% of residents are authorized to opt out each year.

In addition to Kimble and Rumpke, the city also received a bid for services from Republic Waste. Bids from all three haulers were opened Nov. 19. 

Trustee Cindy Engleman said Kimble’s bid was the highest, those submitted by Republic Services and Rumpke were similarly priced.

“After year three, there’s a crossover point, and the pricing for Republic goes higher for the fourth and fifth years versus Rumpke,” she said. 

Trustee Monique Ascherl said there were several contingencies in the Republic bid that could alter the price for residents. She said she feels Rumpke is the best fit for the Hinckley community.

Engleman said she believes Rumpke will offer improved customer service once it takes over trash collection services.

“From a community service standpoint, both Kimble and Rumpke are privately held companies, homegrown,” Engleman said. “I think perhaps they have a closer customer service mentality.”

The contract with Rumpke will last five years, and when it ends, the township can choose to extend the contract for up to three years, Ascherl said. 

Residents will continue to have the option for full service or bag service with Rumpke.

The cost for unlimited service per quarter for the first year is $71.19. Recycling services are available for an additional $1.22 a month, and purchasing a second trash cart, if needed, will cost residents a one-time fee of $80.

For bag service, the cost per quarter for the first year is $30 with a roll of 10 bags costing $40 each, Ascherl said.

Ascherl said the township will be in contact with Rumpke and Kimble to figure out how to transition between companies. She also indicated Rumpke would meet with township officials by Dec. 31 to go over route information. 

“Rumpke is going to work with the township to prepare drafting communication pieces, so they can get the information out to our residents,” she said. “They’re also going to do social media posts and direct mailers.”

Ascherl also noted that in January, the plan will be fine-tuned, so it can officially be rolled out Feb. 1.

“I’ve always been happy with [the service] Kimble [provided],” Ascherl said. “I think we’ve had a good experience. It just at the end of the day came down to the numbers.”It has yet to be determined whether pickup days will remain on Fridays or whether collection will switch to another day of the week.