Athens, Ohio, willing to join council of governments focused on waste services

Officials with the city of Athens, Ohio, are willing to join a council of governments (COG) focused on waste service, WOUB reports.

The COG was proposed to save Athens-Hocking Recycling Centers, which have been at risk of closure after Athens chose a different garbage provider in November 2023.

The city’s administration provided an update to the city council at its meeting April 10 after potential members of the COG met that morning. Those potential members include the cities of Athens, Logan, Amesville, Nelsonville, and the Athens-Hocking Solid Waste District and Athens-Hocking Recycling Centers.

Amesville and the solid waste district are the only ones who have agreed to join the COG. Logan is considering joining but would only use the COG for recycling services, WOUB reports.

Athens Service-Safety Director Andy Stone tells WOUB discussions among potential members have been productive, but there “are a couple points of conflict.”

Stone says some potential founding members opposed allowing members who join later to have a seat at the board. Another point is who has a say when voting to raise the COG’s rates for garbage service.

“We’ve proposed that the entities that pay the most into the COG, whether for dues or services should carry the most weight,” Stone tells WOUB. “There are some other members that don’t think that should occur.”

If a COG were to form, Stone says they expect Athens would end its contract with Cincinnati-based Rumpke, which is supposed to run until 2027. However, the city can leave the contract early with 60 days’ notice.

Athens would bring the most customers to the COG. This is because the city has a franchise district for trash collection, meaning every resident in the district has to use the same provider. Only Athens and Nelsonville have franchise districts, so the COG would serve all their residents. 

Amesville and Logan do not have a franchise district, allowing residents to choose a provider other than the COG.