Tipping fees and yard waste collection discussed

The Stark-Tuscarawas-Wayne Joint Solid Waste Management District Board of Directors, which consists of nine county commissioners from three counties, held a long discussion during the March 1 meeting concerning tipping fee revenue from 2000-24 and yard waste collection sites. The district tipping fee rates are $1 per ton in the district and $1 per ton out of state and $2 out of the district. The average annual tipping fees collect about $4 million annually.

Several factors that impact waste tonnage are economy, waste disposal contracts, waste company acquisitions/mergers, waste district contracts and fee schedules.

The 2024 yard waste site block grants are not to exceed $150,000. The 2024 proposed grant award is $148,976. Rachel Rothacher, administrative director, said the district cut all the fat from the block grants. Executive Director David Held said there are currently 17 yard waste collection sites, and those will be reduced to seven by Dec. 31.

The sites receiving funding for yard waste collection are Village of Brewster, $15,265; Canton Township, $40,300; Nimishillen Township, $34,875; Perry Township, $20,880; Village of Dennison, $5,550; City of Dover, $19,638; and Lawrence Township, $12,468.

In another matter Rothacher said the district only collects about $50,000 from recycling. Chris Abbuhl, Tuscarawas County commissioner, said it is still the district’s mission to recycle what it can.

The recycling drop-off sites have been reduced from 75-68, and the district staff has been reduced from 15-12.

The board also did the following:

—Awarded the contract for the 2024 Recycling Newsletter to Sheridan Ohio in Brimfield for $100,272. No other company submitted a quote.

—Heard the Household Hazardous Waste Collection Program will be held Saturday, May 18 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. by appointment only at the Tuscarawas County Fairgrounds and on Monday, May 20 from noon to 4 p.m. by appointment only at the Wayne County Fairgrounds. There will be 200 appointments available. Call the recycling district at 330-874-2258 or email district@timestorecycle.org.

—Heard the district policy committee updates the 10-year solid waste plan every three years. The next planning period will begin September 2024. The policy committee will meet Sept. 20 at 9:30 a.m. in the district office.

The next board of directors meeting will be held May 3 at 9:30 a.m. in the district office at 9918 Wilkshire Blvd. NE in Bolivar.