Rumpke picked as new recycler (03/23/07)

The name on the recycling container will change, but the cost to the consumer may not.

Rumpke was selected Thursday to provide curbside recycling collection services in the city for one year. The company, based in Cincinnati, submitted the lowest of three bids, with charges of $7,800 per month or $93,600 per year.

The cost to pick up recycling will be $3.25 per household. City residents currently pay $3 per month for recycling collection services as part of their water and sewer bills.

Members of the Portland Board of Works decided Thursday to have Linda Kennedy, the city's clerk-treasurer, determine how much is in the city's water surplus fund after board member Bob McCreery asked if there would be enough to cover the cost increase so it would not have to be passed on to city residents. The matter is expected to be discussed further at the board's next meeting, which is set to be held April 5 at 4 p.m.

The surplus fund is made up of water bill late fees paid by city residents. Monthly water bills also include charges for recycling collection and sewer use. The late fees are split up for water, sewer and recycling. There have been years when the cost to the consumer has been more than what the city has been charged for recycling collection services. This money also makes up the fund, said Tina Paxson, deputy clerk-treasurer.

The last time consumer collection fees increased was in 1998 when they went to $3 from $2, Kennedy said.

The contract with Rumpke, which provided curbside recycling collection services in Portland in 1998 and 1999, will begin April 1.

The company will begin picking up recycling on April 2, said Matthew McNelly, municipal representative for Rumpke.

The new recycling bins are expected to be delivered to households sometime next week, Jeff Harker, street and park department superintendent, said after the meeting.

Waste Management is expected to pick up the old recycling tubs the first week of April, Harker said this morning.

The schedule will remain as it is, with recycling collection being the same day as trash pick-up.

City officials sought bids after learning that Waste Management's fees would increase by about $50,000 per year.

Waste Management, Muncie, submitted the highest bid of $4.75 per household, or $136,800 per year. Best Way of Modoc also submitted a bid of $4.19 per household, or $10,056 per month. All of the collection amounts were based on 2,400 households.

After voting to have Rumpke provide collection services in the city, McCreery thanked Waste Management for all of the company's contributions to the city and county. The company has provided curb-side recycling collection in Portland since 1999.

Also Thursday, the board voted to pay an additional $10,000 to Triad Associates, Inc., of Indianapolis for extra inspecting work done on the Gerber gravity sewer project.

Bruce Hosier, mayor of Portland, said company officials worked about 40 extra days because of delays in the project. The company asked for an additional $25,000. Hosier said he and Kennedy spoke with Triad officials and told them they felt the fees were excessive. The company agreed to the lower fee.

The contract with Triad was for 50 days of work at a price of $72,000. The project took longer than anticipated because some of the soil was sandy and had to be replaced. The sewer project, which was completed near the beginning of October, was designed to divert some sewage away from the north lift station to the Gerber lift station.[[In-content Ad]]