Worthington Approves Five-Year Waste Contract With Local Waste Services
The five-year agreement raises monthly rates by $3.00 starting in 2027, with costs covered by municipal taxes rather than direct household utility bills.
Worthington City Council has approved a new five-year contract with Local Waste Services, Ltd. for residential solid waste, recycling, and yard waste collection, establishing terms that will take effect Jan. 1, 2027 contract-term.
Council passed Ordinance No. 29-2026 (As Amended) on Sept. 21, 2026 passage-date, following its introduction on Sept. 8 and a public hearing on the date of passage effective-date. The ordinance authorizes the city manager to execute an agreement with Local Waste Services contract-auth ahead of the Dec. 31, 2026 expiration of the city's current collection contract contract-expiry.
During the Sept. 21 council meeting, Director Moorhead presented the competitive bid results, reporting that two bidders responded and that Local Waste Services submitted the lowest bid at $21.74 per household per month bid-process. Councilmember Booker moved to amend the ordinance during the meeting to insert the contractor's name and the rate, after which council adopted the amended measure by roll call booker-amendment.
The approved rate represents a $3.00 monthly increase over the current $18.74 rate per household rate-increase. Under Worthington's municipal service model, residents do not receive direct utility bills for residential refuse, recycling, or yard waste collection no-direct-bill. Instead, the city funds collection for approximately 5,250 households directly through its municipal operating budget household-count, financed through the collection of municipal income and property taxes tax-support. City staff announced that the increase will be included in the upcoming year's municipal operating budget budget-addition.
The contract preserves the city's regular curbside collection schedule, with pickups occurring across Worthington each Friday between 6:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. pickup-schedule. Under city rules, residents may place collection containers at the curb no earlier than 6:00 a.m. on Thursday and must set items out no later than 6:00 a.m. on Friday setout-hours. Empty containers must be removed from the curb by 6:00 p.m. on Saturday removal-time, and containers cannot be stored in front yards front-yard-rule.
Under the service specifications, Local Waste Services provides 65-gallon wheeled carts for recycling free of charge recycling-carts. Residents are responsible for providing their own trash cans for household refuse trash-cans. The municipal service covers single-family homes, two-family dwellings, and condominiums, while apartment complexes and commercial structures are excluded from the city's contract dwelling-scope.
To maintain service standards, Moorhead outlined operational provisions and contract terms that allow the city to reduce payments if pickups are repeatedly missed missed-pickup-penalties. He said city staff confirmed driver training processes and incorporated strengthened contract language to ensure the city can pursue payment deductions for recurring missed collections driver-training.
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Supporting evidence (9)
Worthington City Council has approved a new five-year contract with Local Waste Services, Ltd. for residential solid waste, recycling, and yard waste collection, establishing terms that will take effect Jan. 1, 2027 contract-term.
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for the 2027–2032 solid‑waste contract
During the Sept. 21 council meeting, Director Moorhead presented the competitive bid results, reporting that two bidders responded and that Local Waste Services submitted the lowest bid at $21.74 per household per month bid-process.
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Director Moorhead presented the bid process and said two bidders responded; Local Waste Services provided the lowest bid at $21.74 per household per month.
Councilmember Booker moved to amend the ordinance during the meeting to insert the contractor's name and the rate, after which council adopted the amended measure by roll call booker-amendment.
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Councilmember Booker moved to amend the ordinance to insert the contractor name and amount; the amendment passed and the amended ordinance was adopted by roll call.
The approved rate represents a $3.00 monthly increase over the current $18.74 rate per household rate-increase.
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he said the $21.74 proposal represents a $3 monthly increase from the current $18.74 per household rate.
Under Worthington's municipal service model, residents do not receive direct utility bills for residential refuse, recycling, or yard waste collection no-direct-bill.
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Moorhead noted the city currently pays the hauler through the operating budget and residents are not billed directly;
Instead, the city funds collection for approximately 5,250 households directly through its municipal operating budget household-count, financed through the collection of municipal income and property taxes tax-support.
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the city pays the household fee from the operating budget (about 5,250 households) rather than billing households directly;
City staff announced that the increase will be included in the upcoming year's municipal operating budget budget-addition.
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staff said the increase (approximately $3/month) will be included in next year's operating budget.
To maintain service standards, Moorhead outlined operational provisions and contract terms that allow the city to reduce payments if pickups are repeatedly missed missed-pickup-penalties.
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Moorhead described operational provisions and a contract clause that allows the city to reduce payments if pickups are repeatedly missed.
He said city staff confirmed driver training processes and incorporated strengthened contract language to ensure the city can pursue payment deductions for recurring missed collections driver-training.
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He said staff had confirmed driver training processes and added language to strengthen the city's ability to seek payment reductions for recurring missed pickups.
City Council Ordinances · Ordinance No. 29-2026 (As Amended) · ordinance
Supporting evidence (5)
Council passed Ordinance No. 29-2026 (As Amended) on Sept. 21, 2026 passage-date, following its introduction on Sept. 8 and a public hearing on the date of passage effective-date.
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ORDINANCE NO. 29-2026 (As Amended)
Council passed Ordinance No. 29-2026 (As Amended) on Sept. 21, 2026 passage-date, following its introduction on Sept. 8 and a public hearing on the date of passage effective-date.
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Passed: September 21, 2026
Council passed Ordinance No. 29-2026 (As Amended) on Sept. 21, 2026 passage-date, following its introduction on Sept. 8 and a public hearing on the date of passage effective-date.
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Effective: October 14, 2026
The ordinance authorizes the city manager to execute an agreement with Local Waste Services contract-auth ahead of the Dec. 31, 2026 expiration of the city's current collection contract contract-expiry.
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execute an Agreement with Local Waste Services, Ltd.
The ordinance authorizes the city manager to execute an agreement with Local Waste Services contract-auth ahead of the Dec. 31, 2026 expiration of the city's current collection contract contract-expiry.
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expires on December 31, 2026; and,
https://www.worthington.org/m/faq?cat=22
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Instead, the city funds collection for approximately 5,250 households directly through its municipal operating budget household-count, financed through the collection of municipal income and property taxes tax-support.
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The bill is paid by the City and funded through the collection of income and property taxes.
Under the service specifications, Local Waste Services provides 65-gallon wheeled carts for recycling free of charge recycling-carts.
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65 gallon wheeled carts are provided for recycling free of charge.
Residents are responsible for providing their own trash cans for household refuse trash-cans.
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Residents must provide their own trash cans. Commercial structures and apartments are not covered in the City's contract.
https://www.worthington.org/302/Waste-Collection
Supporting evidence (5)
The contract preserves the city's regular curbside collection schedule, with pickups occurring across Worthington each Friday between 6:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. pickup-schedule.
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Collection occurs each Friday between 6:00 am and 6:00 pm, unless otherwise noted due to holidays or natural disasters.
Under city rules, residents may place collection containers at the curb no earlier than 6:00 a.m. on Thursday and must set items out no later than 6:00 a.m. on Friday setout-hours.
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All items are to be placed at the curb or edge of the paved roadway no later than 6:00 am on Friday. By City ordinance, no items may be placed curbside before 6:00 am on Thursday
Empty containers must be removed from the curb by 6:00 p.m. on Saturday removal-time, and containers cannot be stored in front yards front-yard-rule.
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empty containers must be removed from the curb or edge of roadway by 6:00 pm on Saturday.
Empty containers must be removed from the curb by 6:00 p.m. on Saturday removal-time, and containers cannot be stored in front yards front-yard-rule.
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Containers used for the collection of refuse, recycling and yardwaste must not be stored in the front yard.
The municipal service covers single-family homes, two-family dwellings, and condominiums, while apartment complexes and commercial structures are excluded from the city's contract dwelling-scope.
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The City of Worthington provides refuse, recycling and yard waste collections to all single-family, two-family and condominium residences within the City. The City does not manage collection for Apartment buildings.