Background

The City of Grand Rapids commissioned an operational study (2020) and a rate study (2024). Both studies provided similar recommendations that The City of Grand Rapids should shift to becoming the single provider for residential refuse collection. The City of Grand Rapids is considering this alternative for the following reasons: 

• Meet City sustainability goals to reduce Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions 

• Community-wide science-based targets 

•  62.8% per capita GHG reduction community-wide by 2030 from 2019 baseline emissions 

• 100% per capita GHG reduction by 2050 from 2019 baseline emissions. 

• Municipal Carbon Reduction Goals 

• 85% GHG reduction by 2030 (from 2008 emissions) 

• 100% GHG reduction by 2040 (from 2008 emissions) 

• Address increased expectations by community regarding health and cleanliness  

• Ensure trash equity for all residents  

• Improve financial outlook for the refuse fund   

Who Will Be Impacted? 

• The single hauler alternative will impact residential customers in single family homes up to four units who are not currently City of Grand Rapids customers. 

Benefits to a Single Hauler Alternative: 

• Freedom to select cart size and ability to change cart size

• Freedom to decide how often to have trash collected

• Bulk collection price decrease from average private hauler

• Ability to pay all City services at one location

• Pay per tip

• Income based service (pre-qualified for an identified need)

• Back door service (pre-qualified for an identified need)

• Same collection day

• Millage based services (e.g. recycling, street sweeping, graffiti abatement, etc.) 

• Less wear and tear on the roads

• Lower Greenhouse Gas Emmissions (GHG) 

A Community-Wide Approach 

To further gauge interest and impact in the single hauler alternative, staff have developed an engagement design that: 

• Seeks to understand private hauler perspectives and needs
• Identifies current customer perceptions and satisification
• Educates and informs how the single hauler alternative fits in with a larger collection strategy 
• Provides opportunity for feedback via survey and public meetings 

Where staff are still gathering community feedback, below are some improvements that have been identified from initial outeach:

Committed Improvements: 

• Updated camera technology to increase tip accuracy

• Improved customer service

• Increased drivers and administrative office support

• Higher committment to accountability and excellence

• Collaboration with private haulers to create a smooth transition across services. 

If the program goes forward, anticipated start date will be July 1, 2027 (or as soon as 2026). The input received from Grand Rapids residents will impact decision-making as well as the direction given by the City Commission.