Chardon to Switch Trash Haulers

February 18, 2026 by Allison Wilson

While expressing hesitation, Chardon City Council voted 5-2 Feb. 12 to award the city’s waste collection contract to local hauler Dumpster Bandit.

Bids were opened in January, said City Manager Ben Young, noting several proposals were very close in cost.

Dumpster Bandit submitted the lowest bid and proposed no changes to the standard language in the bid packet, Young said.

“In a sort of unique situation, their price for the first five-year term is stable, so it does not change for the full five years,” he added.

Bid specifications also required prices for years six and seven, which the second-lowest bidder did not provide, Young said.

“I have a concern that it is, therefore, potentially not compliant with the required conditions,” he said.

Young said he contacted all three of the references Dumpster Bandit listed, each of whom had switched from a previous hauler and reported no issues with delayed pickup or lack of containers.

However, Dumpster Bandit acknowledged in its bid packet that it would need to acquire additional vehicles to service the city, Young said.

“Which did give me a moment of pause,” he said. “I did research into lead times on these types of vehicles and if the contract is awarded, given the service date doesn’t actually start until later this summer, they will have sufficient time to procure other vehicles.”

Council member Andrew Blackley said council had not reviewed the bid specifications and asked whether a performance time period was included.

Young responded that all pickups citywide must be completed in one day, but the city does not specify the number of hours required.

Residents are allowed to opt out of recycling, Young added in response to a question from council member David Lelko, but he believes they will still be charged, as under the current system.

Lelko said he previously objected to that setup and continues to do so.

Vice Mayor Heather Means raised concerns about the need for additional vehicles, noting extended lead times for large trucks and police vehicles.

“You say you did online research, but that doesn’t mean that’s actually deliverable,” she said to Young. “I’m just curious, how many more trucks do they need to add into their fleet to be able to service the community? What really is the realistic lead time for those being acquired and on-site?”

Services are set to transfer in June, which does not allow much time to obtain new equipment, Means said.

Customers with accounts through the city’s current hauler, Waste Management, would need to establish new accounts, she added, asking whether Dumpster Bandit offers comparable online tools and portals.

Dumpster Bandit provides online bill payment, Young replied.

Means said she was not comfortable making a decision that evening and asked Law Director Ben Chojnacki what options were available to council.

Under the city charter, ordinances must be read three times on three different dates unless council votes to waive the three readings, Chojnacki said.

Whether council could seek additional information between readings was more complex, he added.

“The manager has come to you with a recommendation based on the information he thinks is pertinent,” Chojnacki explained. “This conversation you’re having is providing (you) with information you think is pertinent. If you are not inclined to move forward because you don’t have the information necessary, then it becomes a question of, does the information that you need, is it going to be provided and can it be provided consistently with the bid solicitation.”

Discussion continued regarding what additional information could be gathered and whether the second-lowest bid was nonresponsive.

“Everybody has complied with the bid documents. (Young) has a bid bond. If the contractor fails to perform once the contract is signed, then we have other recourse,” Blackley finally said, noting he is not sure council will receive more information within a month.

Young noted the current contract includes a clause allowing the city to terminate the agreement for any reason.

Council voted 6-1 to waive the multiple readings requirement, with Means casting the sole dissenting vote. Council then voted 5-2 to award the contract to Dumpster Bandit, with Lelko and council member Kyle Martin voting no.