Futures Commission: Trash fee could lead to more illegal dumping, litter | Opinion

The Cincinnati Futures Commission has released a 74-page report outlining a plan to bolster our city's economy. The report includes recommendations about various aspects of city operation, some of which will require voter approval to institute. There’s much to debate about the report − and the commission itself − but I’m sure there will be more opportunity for that discourse in the coming years. One particular recommendation caught my attention, and I wish to share my thoughts about it.

The Futures Commission recommends that Cincinnati charge a fee for trash/waste collection, instead of the publicly funded service (contracted with Rumpke) that households already utilize. It would come out to $15.30 per month per household. According to the report, this would generate roughly $164 million of revenue for the city during the next decade.

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Currently, apartment complexes (buildings with five or more units) within the city do not receive publicly funded waste collection. Landlords of such properties are required to pay for private services. The service charge is often passed along to tenants in rent prices. About 36% of Cincinnati residents live in apartment complexes, according to census data. Of course, those residents’ income taxes also fund services for the rest of the population.

On paper, the recommendation to charge a waste collection fee seems equitable; it would force all residents to pay the same amount for the same service. In practice, though, I foresee unintended consequences of the recommendation.

My opinion is based on personal experience. In 2022, I started a business that focused on cleaning up trash around Cincinnati. I contracted with private customers to keep their properties clean. I literally swept garbage with a broom, pan, and grabber. The business has since evolved to be a general lawn care service, but trash cleaning still remains a core aspect of its operation. I have worked all across the city, from Pleasant Ridge to Northside to Price Hill to Walnut Hills and various neighborhoods in between. Needless to say, I have plenty of knowledge about trash in our city.

There are many trash-related issues that I could discuss. One recurring problem I’ve noticed is entire bags of household garbage dumped on sidewalks, parking lots, and other people's properties. I’ve even watched people dump these bags. There are a few reasons for why this happens, but one culprit is inadequate trash collection for (some) apartment complexes.

Remember that complexes are forced to hire private services. Some landlords, naturally, want to keep as much profit as possible, so they only pay for the bare minimum service, resulting in fewer cans than necessary. Consequently, when the available cans fill up, tenants have nowhere else to place their garbage, so the next viable alternative is to dump it elsewhere. Out of sight, out of mind. (It’s important to note that only some landlords operate in this manner; many landlords are responsible civilians and stewards.)

To that end, I believe this problem will exacerbate if all residents are forced to pay a waste collection fee. There will undoubtedly be quite a few homeowners who refuse to pay the fee, and thus will find alternative ways to dispose of their trash.

And some people − who have lived in Cincinnati for a long time and are accustomed to the current service − might simply forget to pay this fee regularly, leading to bags piling up. It’s just adding another bill to an already complex household economy. This also begs the question: How will the trash collection service know who is and isn’t paid up? It seems like the process would become unnecessarily complicated.

I propose the opposite of the Cincinnati Futures Commission’s recommendation: Do not institute a monthly fee, but expand publicly funded waste collection to apartment complexes instead. If that necessitates a small increase in income tax, so be it.

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I’m saying that in good faith. If the commission’s recommendation would be approved, I would ultimately earn more money through my business, since there would be more trash to clean up. However, at the end of the day, I love this city and just want it to be a better place to live.

The Futures Commission’s report is a lengthy but important read. Voters should make themselves familiar with the possible changes that could be decided soon. Furthermore, it’s important and healthy for us to debate the recommendations; that’s how great civilizations evolve, after all.

Ben Klayer lives in West Price Hill.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Trash fee could lead to more illegal dumping, litter | Opinion