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Frequently Asked Questions
City of Cleveland Waste Collection fee
1) What is this?
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After careful deliberation, Cleveland City Council passed a modified version of Mayor Frank G. Jackson’s trash collection fee proposal. |
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Starting in 2010, City of Cleveland residents will pay an $8.00 per unit monthly fee for trash collection. This fee is set to increase annually by 25 cents, capping at $8.75 per unit in 2013. Most significantly, Council successfully advocated for a 50% homestead discount for seniors 65 years or older and disabled individuals who meet income guidelines. |
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An efficiencies study found that comparable Ohio Cities charge an average of $9.69 for trash, In 2014, Cleveland’s fee will be 94 cents less than the average fee charged in comparable Ohio cities today. |
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2) How much?
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Starting in 2010, the fee will be $8.00 per unit monthly |
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The fee increases by $0.25 per year until it hit $8.75 in 2013 |
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elderly aged 65 and older and disabled persons that qualify for the Water Department’s Homestead discount (income guidelines apply) also qualify for a 50% discount off the trash fee. |
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In 2010, the 50% Homestead discount will be equal to $4.00 per unit monthly |
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You must fill out an application and qualify annually in order to obtain a Homestead discount. Call 216-664-3130 for additional information and an application. |
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3) How will I be billed?
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The trash fee will be added to your current water/sewer bill, which comes quarterly in 2010 |
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Starting in 2011, you will receive a monthly bill for trash, water and sewer |
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Delinquent payments will be collected through established methods |
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4) What if I don’t put my trash out every week?
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You still have to pay the monthly fee because the service is available to you |
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5) What if I live in an apartment building or rent?
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Buildings that have a dumpster already pay for trash service and will not be affected |
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Like water and sewer, the owner, rather than the renter is responsible for this bill |
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6) What if I havent been able to rent out my unit? Do I still have to pay?
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If a unit is vacant for 60 days or more, the owner may apply for a waiver of the fee. Call 216-664-3130 to apply. |
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7) What if my home is considered a mulii-family property, but only my family lives here?
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You may apply for a waiver of the fee for “unoccupied” units in a multi-family dwelling. Call 216-664-3130 to apply. |
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8) Is recycling connected to the fee?
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At Council’s urging, the Administration agreed to take aggressive steps toward the implementation of citywide curbside recycling and an automated trash pick-up program. |
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In order to accelerate the implementation of curbside recycling and automated trash pick-up, more expenditures and equipment are required. They will be covered by Bond proceeds and paid partly by the waste collection fee. |
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9) Why is the fee necessary?
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Our nation is going through tough times and the City of Cleveland is not immune to current economic conditions. |
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City Council and the Administration have been working desperately over the past year to plug holes, cut costs, identify savings and somehow balance the budget without resorting to layoffs or service cuts. And we did it for 2009. |
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But, with the upcoming year comes even greater challenges and once again our goal is to fill this enormous hole in the budget without laying off police and firefighters, cutting services, closing recreation centers or raising taxes. Doing so will be neither easy nor pain-free. |
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After the application of one time revenues, a $22.8 million hole still needed to be filled in order to balance the City’s 2010 budget. This fee, it has been estimated, will generate $11 million annually. |
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A study provided to the City by a consultant hired to find efficiencies and suggest cost cutting as well as money generating measures indicated that charging for the City’s trash service would have a large impact on the budget. Of the measures suggested in the consultant’s findings, there were only a small portion estimated to have a similarly large impact (Please note that projections regarding waste collection cost and revenue on page 96 of the Management and Efficiencies report are based on an estimate of 190,000 households, while the Division of Waste Collection estimates 140,000 households in the City of Cleveland). |
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Waste collection service costs the City approximately $27 million annually to perform. The new fee covers less than ½ of that cost. |
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10) What alternatives to the fee were considered?
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To generate the same amount of money, we could have chosen to: |
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Lay off 120 safety personnel |
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Close ½ the City’s recreation centers |
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Lay off 200 city employees |
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Increase taxes |
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You can see what other recommendations were made to the City yourself. Follow the link to the “Cleveland Management and Efficiency Report” |
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