Is your waste hauler registered?

New provisions to the Cincinnati Municipal Code (CMC, Chapter 730) will incentivize more recycling in the commercial sector. The Commercial Waste Franchise Program insures quality service for commercial customers and encourages commercial waste collectors and their customers to properly dispose of recyclables and yard waste materials and to divert them away from area landfills.

Additionally, the program brings us one step closer to achieving waste reduction goals outlined in the Green Cincinnati Plan, namely “Zero waste by 2035” and “ Decrease (residential) tonnage to landfill by 20%”.

All commercial waste including construction and demolition debris must be handled by a registered commercial waste hauler. 

Registered franchise holders as of Jan 2021 include:

1. Rumpke of Ohio, 513-851-0122, www.rumpke.com
2. Republic Services of Ohio, 513-771-4200, www.republicservices.com
3. Best Way of Indiana, 1-800-354-1830, www.BestWay-Disposal.com
4. Bavarian Trucking Company. 859-485-4416, www.bavarianwaste.com

Commercial waste collection service providers in the city limits of Cincinnati must have a waste franchise agreement with the city. It is a Class D Civil Offence under CMC Chapter 730 to provide commercial waste collection services in Cincinnati without a franchise from the City.

• “Commercial waste collection service” is defined as the activity of collecting, transporting, receiving, storing, disposing of or separating any type of commercial waste generated within the city.  This includes all attendant services, such as providing, selling, leasing, moving, cleaning, repairing, and maintaining containers of commercial establishments in the city.
• “Commercial waste” is defined as waste generated from a commercial establishment taken to a Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) or Construction and Demolition Debris (CDD) landfill.  It does not include infectious or hazardous waste, recyclable material taken to a Material Recovery Facility (MRF), or organics taken such as food or yard waste taken to a permitted compost facility.
• “Commercial establishment” is defined as any building that does not constitute a dwelling, including but not limited to government owned buildings, residential structures with five or more units, all industrial structures, all businesses, and all structures containing both commercial and residential space.  Commercial waste, including construction and demolition debris, generated during the renovation or demolition of existing structures and/or the construction of new structures.

Sec. 1501-9. - Class D Civil Offenses.

A person who violates a standard of conduct set forth in a provision of the Cincinnati Municipal Code listed below is liable for the civil fine specified in § 1501-99 for a Class D Civil Offense. If a person has previously been found to have violated the same provision of the Cincinnati Municipal Code within one year that person may be charged as a second offender and on being found to have committed a second or subsequent offense is liable for the civil fine for the subsequent offense provided below, which fine is specified in § 1501-99 and is not subject to reduction for correction of the violation.

The following fines apply to unregistered waste haulers:

Offense	Initial Civil Fine	If Delinquent	If Sent For Collection
Class D	$750.00	$1,500.00	$1,750.00

For more information or to report a violation, call the Office of Environment and Sustainability at 352-3200 or https://www.cincinnati-oh.gov/oes/commercial-waste-hauler-program/

To register as a franchisee, you may find the RFP and all pertinent information on the online platform, Bonfire, by clicking on the provided link: https://cincinnati-oh.bonfirehub.com/. All proposals must be submitted electronically via the City’s Bonfire portal at the provided link. Responses submitted by hard copy, mail, or e-mail will not be accepted.