New refuse system to begin

ST. MARYS – The City of St. Marys will begin implementing our new Solid Waste Collection System - in phases - beginning in early September. Phase One will involve customers whose refuse is picked up on Monday. If you are currently on Monday’s route, you will receive your new toter between September 10 and September 13. The City will provide the first toter to our customers at no cost. A second toter can be purchased by calling our Utility Office at 419-300-3142. Ninety-six (96) gallon toters are $75 each and forty-eight (48) gallon toters are $60 each.

The current monthly fee for all customers will remain the same. However, if you purchase a second toter, your monthly fee will increase by $6.75. You will be charged this additional monthly fee even if you don’t set out the second toter for collection on a weekly basis as our employee will not have the time to record how many toters are set out at your residence. The City plans to conduct a rate study in late 2025 to ensure revenue requirements are met.

All customers will be provided an informational sheet outlining the guidelines for placement of their toter(s) on collection days as well as guidelines for general use and the storage of toters. There will be no tags needed for the new system, but trash needs to be in bags. No loose trash can be deposited into the toters. Once you receive your toter, you will be able to use it at the next refuse collection date.

The free toter will remain City property, however, we encourage customers to write their address on the toter for easy identification. There will be no changes for our residential customers who participate in our weekly recycling program. Commercial customers who utilize our dumpster service will not be affected by this new system.

“We are very excited to start this new collection system and will implement the subsequent Phases as soon as practical,” Mayor Joe Hurlburt said. “We ask for your patience as we work through the challenges that are surely to occur.”

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