Westlake to Get New Trash Hauler

In a move that could save the city as much as $400,000, Westlake City Council approved a deal with Cincinnati-based Rumpke Waste & Recycling Services.

The deal is approved for five years, said Westlake Director of Public Services Paul Quinn after Thursday's council meeting at .

Mayor Dennis Clough said that, while BFI/Allied Waste has provided good service to the city, the savings plus the positive references for Rumpke put Rumpke over the top.

"We're confident (Rumpke) will have no problem meeting the city's expectations," Clough told members of council.

Rumpke has been in business for 80 years, and has been established in the greater Cleveland area the past 2 1/2 years, said Rich Chandler, public sector representative for Rumpke. The company handles trash for 13 area communities, more than 300 in Ohio, he added.

"I think our record of customer service and being a leader in recycling helped sell us," Chandler said, adding that the company handles 1.2 million pounds of recyclables each day at its Columbus facility.

The first year, Westlake will pay $1,571,132 for trash hauling, Quinn said, with increases of about 2.5 percent each year afterwards.

"Even the increases were lower than other companies," Quinn said.

The city will be harged extra for Rumpke dealing with debris collected from street sweeping. Quinn said that should average about $12,000 per year.

Things could change in two years. That is when the city will have to make a decision about whether or not to go with automated trash pick-up, where standardized trash and recycling cans are issued and trucks have mechanical attachments to pick up the cans and empty them into the trucks.

The city can go with automated pick-up then, Quinn said, or end the existing contract with Rumpke and re-bid.

A lot depends on Westlake citizens, Quinn said. He's been hearing strong opinions both for and against automation of trash pick-up.