The 13th annual special collection of bulk refuse in the University District got off to a slow start last month.  Although 11 drop-off sites had been designated, refuse quickly piled up in alleys and along curbs as thousands of students moved out of their apartments.  The Columbus Public Service Department cited the city’s budget problems for a lack of resources to deal with the bulk trash as it had been dealt with in the recent past.

Ian MacConnell, president of the University Area Commission, took a leading role in emphasizing the seriousness of the situation with the city and university officials.  Many residents also were quite upset by the piles of refuse.  Public safety officials expressed concern that the refuse could become fuel for arsonists during the first two home football games.

With leadership from Dawn Tyler Lee, assistant vice president for outreach and engagement at Ohio State, the university in early September agreed to make a one-time grant of $50,000 to the city to pay for staff overtime and related costs to remove bulk refuse as quickly as possible.

In response, the city’s Refuse Collection Division instituted overtime in advance of the first two football games.  While some refuse “hot spots” pop up as students move in, in general the alleys and curbs have returned to normal.  With the $50,000 grant, the city also has pledged to send refuse trucks into the area on Friday and Saturday morning in advance of home football games and to service High Street litter containers on Sunday for the rest of the season.

The University District Public Service Committee will discuss with city, university and neighborhood representatives this fall the level of refuse services needed in the University District.  The committee then will work with other University District stakeholders to request that the city administration and City Council allocate sufficient resources to the Refuse Collection Division to meet the demonstrated need.

The next meeting of the University District Public Service Committee will be Monday, September 29, at 1 p.m. in the Northwood-High Building, 2231 N. High Street.