Some South Toledo residents say their trash has gone weeks without being picked up, reviving frustration with a waste-collection system the city just recommitted to this summer.
City officials say missed pickups are counted against hauler Republic Services under its contract unless the company can show the miss was not its fault. The complaints come just months after a bruising public debate over who should collect Toledo's garbage.
Earlier this year, Mayor Wade Kapszukiewicz asked council to approve a switch to a new provider, Priority Waste, arguing its technology and bulk-pickup service would be better. Council balked — the alternative was non-union and its bid drew scrutiny — and ultimately approved a renewed contract with Republic instead.
The new deal came with promises: GPS tracking on trucks, cameras documenting pickups and a blight team to handle eviction setouts, the curbside piles that rot into neighborhood eyesores. City leaders sold the contract as accountability on wheels.
Residents say the South Toledo misses show the accountability has not reached their streets yet. The contract also came with steeper bills for residents, with fees projected to nearly double by 2028.
City officials encourage residents to report missed pickups so the city can document them against the contract's performance standards.
— NewsForce Staff