RICHMOND HEIGHTS, Ohio -- Come January, Richmond Heights will no longer be Cuyahoga County’s only community that does not offer curbside recycling.
At its meeting Tuesday (Sept. 26), City Council voted 6-0 (Councilman-at-Large Daniel Ursu was not present) to enter into a two-year contract, with three option years, for automated garbage and recyclables collection with Waste Management, its waste collection provider of the past several years.
The new deal will have Richmond Heights, in 2024, paying an additional 58 cents per household, per month for collecting recyclables curbside, for a total of $44,000.
The city will pay $14.93 per household, per month for curbside garbage collection. In total, the city will pay $644,000 in 2024 for garbage and recyclable collection.
Mayor Kim Thomas said residents will not be assessed additional taxes in order to pay for recycling.
Thomas had made it a goal to begin recyclable collection in Richmond Heights and was thrilled that council passed legislation to do so.
“I’m excited, because we were the last city to offer recycling to our residents and now we will have it,” Thomas said.
“Right now, our goal is to make sure our residents are fully educated on the importance of recycling. We’re going to start that education campaign in the next two weeks to get them ready for recycling.
“We’re going to get educational pamphlets and a video from Waste Management,” she said. “The video, we’re going to put on our city website and in our e-newsletter.”
The pamphlet and video will inform residents as to what can and cannot be recycled.
Service Director Ryan Tiedman said recyclables will be collected every Monday along with residents’ garbage. Each household will be issued a recyclables container to go along with the garbage container they already have.
Tiedman said an educational meeting with residents will be planned so that residents can ask questions about recycling.
“I’m excited, the mayor’s excited, City Council’s excited,” Tiedman said about the coming of curbside recycling. “It’s better for the environment. It’s good for everybody.”
“Richmond Heights offered a recycling program over seven years ago, however, it was canceled,” Thomas said. “We can get it right this time by educating the residents about the importance of recycling. The more we recycle, the more we can help reduce waste sent to landfills and conserve natural resources and energy.
“We are in a great place right now with moving the city forward. Recycling is one of my top priorities. We receive calls and emails daily about the city offering recycling.
“We log every call and take every complaint very seriously,” she said. “Many calls come into city hall regarding recycling and residents having to take their recycled items to another location. A few residents also shared that they moved to Richmond Heights because they thought we recycle.
“We are one of the last communities to offer a complete recycling program. So, we are excited to restart recycling in Richmond Heights. If residents have questions about the program, don’t hesitate to contact the service department.”
Thomas said that, starting this week, she will go door to door -- accompanied by interim Police Chief Calvin Williams, Tiedman and a city building inspector -- to answer questions about recycling and any other matter on residents’ minds.
“We’re going to go through the community and try to touch all the residents,” she said. “We’re really engaging with our residents and small business owners to find out what are the concerns they have. We’re going to meet them where they are.
“Whether it’s about their homes, or trash pickup, or snowplowing in the streets, or if it’s about the roads, resources -- we’re just trying to get the word out about the services that the city offers and the resources the city has to provide the residents.”
Distracted driver law
Also at the meeting, Williams noted that as of Oct. 5, the grace period will be over for Ohio’s distracted driver law and officers can begin to cite offenders.
The law was passed in April. During the ensuing months, officers have issued warnings to those not following the law.
According to the Ohio Department of Public Safety website, “With very few exceptions, anything that involves using, holding or supporting a device while driving is off-limits.
“Drivers can listen to audio streaming apps and use navigational equipment if they turn them on before getting on the road or use a single touch or swipe to activate, modify or deactivate them.
“Remember, drivers under the age of 18 are still restricted from using their devices in any way, including hands-free features.”
To learn more details of the new law, visit here.
Fall Fun Fest
The city held its annual Fall Fun Fest Sept. 16 at Greenwood Farm City Park.
“The festival drew our largest crowd yet,” Thomas said. ”Over 300 participated, and feedback has been overwhelmingly positive.
“Residents had the opportunity to come together and celebrate the changing of the seasons while also taking part in all of the festivities -- a magician, face painter, hayrides, a bouncy house, a ride on the Rocket Car.
“The community had the opportunity to sample the award-winning chili prepared by Councilwoman Juanita Lewis, along with other delicious meals from the host of food trucks and 22 vendors.
“Based on the vendor’s sales, we have already started reserving vendors’ space for next year’s event.”
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