Recycling district leases new trucks for efficiency

The Stark-Tuscarawas-Wayne Joint Solid Waste Management District Board of Directors approved leasing six industrial-standard, heavy-duty 44-yard front-load recycling trucks at its March 6 meeting.

The lease is a five-year, full-service Mack lease at a total investment of $2,523,323. If the trucks were purchased, the cost would be $3,792,669. The board agreed to lease two of the trucks at a cost not to exceed $450,000 per year and will use trade-in values toward the lease, to be paid out of the general fund capital assets line item. The monthly lease term is $6,250 per truck.

“We have seven trucks. Four will be traded in and three will be sent to other companies,” Assistant Director Steve Tharp said.

“The paperwork is so much easier with a lease. We looked at the cost of five-year lease payments for six trucks. We felt this was a good deal,” Executive Director David Held said.

The full-service lease plan is through Brechbuhler Truck Sales of Canton. The lease includes labor, bumper-to-bumper coverage for the full term of the lease, 60 months, 24/7 emergency service and a four-hour minimum downtime for qualified repairs or service, pending availability.

The board also did the following:

— Learned Stark County Sheriff’s Deputy Chris Newman will serve as the new Lytx coach for district truck drivers. He will conduct regular coaching during driver routes, including pretrip and post-trip inspections, load securement training, defensive driving and fire extinguisher training. Lytx is a company that provides technology for commercial drivers.

— Approved a site improvement at St. Michael’s School in Canton, with an estimated completion date in April. District bins have been ordered, and drivers will place labels on the bins and deliver them. Officials said it will provide cleaner and better service.

— Repealed and rescinded the 2006 district rules and 2008 guidance document, which included definitions, operational standards, solid waste facility siting rules, and prohibitions or limitations on out-of-district waste. The repeal became effective immediately upon adoption of the motion.

— Heard a request to remove a recycling drop-off site at the Valley College Grange in Wayne County by March 31. Reasons cited were increased membership, a need for parking space and increased activity. The district is coordinating with Wayne County commissioners and Wooster Township trustees to identify alternative sites.

— Learned the solid waste district added an additional cardboard bin to accommodate volume, bringing the total to 10 cardboard bins and two paper 6-yard bins at the Jackson Township South Park/barn partnership site.

— Heard a $2,500 tire program grant was awarded to Tuscarawas County for hosting a tire collection site. Zachary Phillips, REHS, director of environmental health, organizes the program.

— Learned the Drug Enforcement Administration take-back event in Stark County will be held Saturday, April 25, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Stark County Fairgrounds, Massillon Sheriff Training Center, Walmart in Alliance, Sam’s Club, Belden Village and the ODOT facility at 4501 Atlantic Blvd.

The board also heard the DEA National Drug Take-Back event in Tuscarawas County will be held Saturday, April 25, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at a location to be announced.

The JSW policy committee will meet March 20 at 9:30 a.m. in the district office. The policy committee has 21 members from the three counties and writes the solid waste plan. The plan will be a certified draft before being submitted to the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency by April 20. The plan is expected to be adopted in September, and the ratification requirement is a 90-day period with 60% approval by member communities beginning Jan. 1, 2027. The final ratified plan is due to Ohio EPA by June 22, 2027.

Ohio Billing will hold a shredding and e-recycling collection event April 18 from 9-11 a.m. at 10911 state Route 212 NE, just east of the Bolivar Giant Eagle.

The next meeting will be held May 1 at 9:30 a.m. in the district office at 9918 Wilkshire Blvd. NE, Bolivar.