More recycling bins wanted

Some Lorain residents asking for extra carts

rpayerchin@morningjournal.com It appears Lorainites are learning to love the cart system for taking out the garbage. At least, some of them are. Garbage collection came up for discussion several times during Lorain City Council’s regular meeting Feb. 4. Lorain, working with waste hauler Republic Services, in May 2017, converted to automated trash collection with residents using wheeled garbage cans, or carts, to put their rubbish out for pickup. Now, city residents are asking for more recycling carts and making suggestions to improve service when Lorain’s administration negotiates the city’s next contract with a waste hauler. Writing to Council, city resident Abbey Gleason asked if it could be possible for Lorain citizens to get an additional recycling container for free. Gleason said she called Republic Services “and they said that some cities allow customers to get an additional recycling can free of charge, but it would cost us $80 up front and then an additional rental fee each month to attempt to better the earth.” “Or possibly give citizens that actually recycle the can of those citizens who do not put their recycling can out,” she said. “We have several on our street,” Gleason said. Ward 8 Councilman Joshua Thornsberry and Councilwoman-at-Large Mary Springowski reacted favorably to Gleason’s email. “I want to personally 100 percent support Ms. Gleason’s request for additional recycle bins,” Thornsberry said. In other communities, residents can get recycling carts the same size as the trash carts at no extra cost, he said, adding another resident emailed him Feb. 4 to ask about the same thing. “Again, it shouldn’t cost anything because we’re helping that company produce more revenue by doing more recycling and we’re helping the environment,” Thornsberry said. The issue probably will need to be negotiated into Lorain’s trash hauling contract, he said, and added Safety-Service Director Dan Given and Mayor Chase Ritenauer should know that is something Council wants done. Springowski concurred on the recycling bins. “I know I get this question a lot myself,” she said. Gleason attended the meeting and was present during Thornsberry and Springowski’s responses. However, Gleason said she was frustrated at not being allowed to comment on the issues during the meeting, so she left before the it was completed. City Council generally allows residents to speak during committee deliberations, but does not necessarily have public comment periods during regular meetings. Council returned to the issue of trash collection later Feb. 4 during their time to address miscellaneous concerns. Due to extreme cold last week, Jan. 30 and 31 trash pickup was canceled, Thornsberry said. He asked for a bill credit for residents who did not get weekly collection. Ward 3 Councilwoman Pamela Carter agreed with the request and noted the extra bags allowed this week for residents who had garbage day canceled last week due to the cold. Springowski again concurred with Thornsberry and Carter and said some residents now have concerns about alleviating congestion on garbage day this week because now not all their recyclable items will fit in that bin. She suggested additional items to include in Lorain’s next waste hauling contract: • An extra bulk day in January for after Christmas • An extra bulk day in July.

MORNING JOURNAL FILE Contractors from Texas-based WasteRec Waste Recycling Services Inc. deliver wheeled garbage cans to residential properties in Lorain on April 17, 2017. Almost two years after Lorain began using the wheeled cans, or carts, for automated trash collection, some residents would like to have larger or more recycling containers.