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Gates Mills residents get option on trash pickup
(by Sali McSherry - January 07, 2010)
Gates Mills residents get option on trash pickup
By SALI McSHERRY
A five-year contract with Landmark Disposal, of Cleveland, begins this month for Gates Mills residents, who will deal directly with the company.
Residents will have the choice of having their trash picked up weekly or biweekly, and the cost will be less than last year.
Village Council approved an agreement with the company last fall to provide garage-service garbage and recycling pickup as the exclusive trash hauler for residents.
Last year, residents were required to pay for garbage pickup. Needing to come up with $400,000 to balance its 2009 budget after two road levies failed, the village saved about $280,000 by charging residents for the service, Finance Administrator Jo Ann Lechman said. The cost is $23.89 per month, or $286.68 per year, for weekly service. The cost for biweekly service is $17.12 per month or $205.44 per year.
Councilman Shawn Riley said it's a better deal than last year and offers more options to residents. With trash collection, the company continues to offer recycling.
Residents are asked to commingle glass, plastic and aluminum in blue recycling bags, according to Service Director David Biggert. Newspapers can be placed in paper bags, he said.
Landmark was one of four companies to submit bids and had the lowest bid for the first three years of a five-year contract. In the fourth year, the rate goes up to $24.85 per month and in the fifth year, it increases to $25.95.
The highest bidder was Universal, of Cleveland, with a rate of $34 in the first year and increasing to $36 in the fifth year. While Metro Disposal, of Cleveland, had the lowest first-year monthly rate, it increased more than Landmark's rate over the five years and the company would not offer biweekly service. The bid from J&J Refuse, of Cleveland, started at $26.30 and increased by the fifth year to $31.66.
Gates Mills has contracted with Landmark for 10 years, Mrs. Lechman said. Previously, the village had contracted for five years with BFI Residential Services, of Cleveland, she said.
Out of about 960 households, about 71 households did not use the service last year, 15 houses were vacant and residents from about 26 households did not use the service for the full year because they were on vacation.
Gates Mills has provided garage-pickup trash collection for about 15 years.
For more information or to change collection schedule, call Landmark at (216) 447-0100.
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