Miami Twp. trash collection switch expected to save customers money

Miami Twp. residents will soon be changing trash haulers — and likely pickup days — in a move that officials said could save customers nearly $1 million.

Rumpke of Ohio Inc. will replace Waste Management Inc. in 2018 and will institute a five-day collection system to replace WMI’s single-day, Wednesday service, officials said.

Miami Twp. trustees voted unanimously Nov. 14 to award a three-year contract to Rumpke, whose rate includes a monthly price drop for customers, records show. Rumpke submitted the “lowest and best” bid over Waste Management, whose contract expires Dec. 31.

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Republic Services also submitted a proposal, which was incomplete and thus eliminated, said township Deputy Director of Community Development Kyle Hinkelman.

Rumpke’s bid includes options for two additional years that includes annual rate hikes, records show. But township officials said the new deal could substantially cut costs.

“With an estimated 7,500 homes serviced this would equate to roughly $180,000 annually to township residents or potentially $989,100 for residents over the life of the contract,” according to a memo from Hinkelman.

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Township records show customers will be billed $12.75 a month for the first three years of the contract. If a fourth-year option is extended, the monthly charge would increase to $13.26 and a fifth-year option would rise to $13.79 a month, records show.

Waste Management’s bid would have cost a customer $16.02 a month for the first three years, a $16.82 a month for a fourth year and $17.66 for a fifth year, township records show.

Board of Trustees Vice President Doug Barry said with the savings the township will see, the Rumpke bid “makes sense.”

Barry said he anticipates some issues as the township changes to a new service provider, but the cost savings will be worth it.

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“There’ll be a little bit of growing pains I’m sure with the transition to Rumpke,” he said, noting “it all comes down to dollars and cents.”

Rumpke finds a five-day collection rotation is more effective, said Kyle Aughe, a company regional sales manager.

“We have made the successful transition from one-day service to five-day service” in other Dayton-area communities, he said.

Aughe said Rumpke has a record of being “adept” adjusting to new clients “to make the transition as seamless as possible.”

Rumpke will use “a number of different platforms” – including direct mail, the news media, working with the township and its website - to communicate transitional changes to Miami Twp. customers, Aughe said.

“A full-blown mailer” will be sent to customers as the changeover nears, “very overt, letting them know what their service day is” and other details, he said.

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