Tallmadge approves switch to Rumpke trash service; residents to receive new cans and modest rate increase

Tallmadge — The city told the Tallmadge City Council on Thursday that residential trash collection will move from Kimball to Rumpke and that new refuse containers are being delivered to households across the city.

Director of Public Service Rohrer said the final Kimball pickup for the affected west-side route will occur Monday, and that the new Rumpke service and cans will begin afterward. Rohrer asked residents to be patient during the rollout, noting roughly 6,000 cans are being delivered and collected.

Rohrer said the new cans are owned by homeowners rather than the contractor. He told council members that if a future contractor changes, the city will not require replacement cans and those cans will remain with the homeowner. He also said Rumpke is responsible for fixing damaged cans during the contract period.

Finance and service figures presented at the meeting show the trash service charge will increase from $55.95 per quarter to $62.40 per quarter. The director framed that as a $2.15 monthly increase compared with the previous contract, noting the prior bid was issued five years ago.

Council members asked operational questions about who to contact for damaged cans and about implications if the city changes haulers again in the future. Rohrer said the new supplier will likewise be responsible for repairs while the cans remain homeowner property.

No formal council vote on the contract switch was recorded in the meeting minutes; the change was presented as an administrative update from the public service department.