July 21, 2023 – Introducing the Summit County Curbside Yard Waste Program with Tim Loveday and Ashlee Cawley

Hey everyone and welcome to a special edition of our weekly news podcast, Summit in Six. While we usually try to keep things short around here, today we’re going to have a longer form conversation with Summit County’s Landfill Superintendent, Tim Loveday and Republic Services’ Municipal Contract Administrator, Ashlee Cawley. Republic Services, in partnership with Summit County, is planning to launch an optional curbside yard waste program in selected locations throughout Summit County in 2024 and Ashlee is here with us to talk more about the yard waste program and what it might look like for Summit County residents next year.  Tim, can you give our listeners a little background into how the county arrived at this potential yard waste partnership with Republic Services?  When the County went out RFP for curbside collection services, we asked that potential contractors offer us a separate but integrated proposal to provide opt-in services, of which yard waste was a primary target.  This would assist in diverting waste from the landfills.  Republic offered the potential within the confines of our contract, to work with Spoil to Soil or other subcontractors to meet the County’s requirements.  While this opportunity has been challenging, we are at the threshold of a unique opt-in collection program within the Solid Waste Division and offered through a joint relationship between Summit County, Republic Services and Spoil to Soil.  This effort comes at little cost to the tax payers, relying on funding primarily from those who choose to participate.  Ashlee, can you give us an overview of what the program will look like?  For sure! The Summit County Curbside Yard Waste Program is an optional curbside yard waste program Republic Services is planning to offer to selected locations in Summit County in Spring 2024. In order to successfully launch the program, we need 3,500 residences in the selected area to opt into the program. If the minimum number of sign ups are received, participating residents will receive 95-gallon yard waste carts in which they can place residential yard waste.  How will the yard waste be collected?   Participating residents will place their carts on the curb for weekly collection – just like your normal trash bins!  Can commercial businesses that fall within the selected areas opt-in to the program?  No. This program is for residential yard waste only. Attempted sign-ups from commercial entities and/or landscaping businesses will be rejected. What areas of the county have been selected?  The Curbside Yard Waste Pilot Program is only available for selected locations throughout the county. Please visit bit.ly/scyardwastemap and plug your address into the map to see if you’re eligible for the program.  What if you’re interested in the program, but your address does not fall in the selected areas?  If your address does not fall in the selected area, but you’re interested in receiving potential yard waste services, select that option on the sign up form. You will then be asked to provide your information for the waitlist.  Do you have an idea of what the program might cost?  The cost of service will be an annual fee of $125 for collection from April 1 to October 31, 2024 (with annual increases per the County’s agreemen