Batavia residents may be wasting money when it comes to garbage removal, and Batavia Township Administrator Rex Parsons is looking for solutions to achieve a cheaper rate for all residents.

Parsons, who presented the issue to trustees April 5, said residents frequently call the township to inquire about garbage pickup, which is currently their responsibility. Parsons said one resident, who was deciding on a service provider, informed him that local companies were matching each others prices.

Rumpke and Republic Services, also known as CSI, are the two major waste removal companies that serve the Batavia area.

Rumpke charges an average of $20, depending on the services included, according to Molly Yeager, corporate communications coordinator. The fee covers six bags or six 32 gallon cans along with one large item a week. Yeager said the price varies because residents can add a trash cart, recycling and other services to their contract. Yeager also said the company does price match, and also offers promotions that would give some residents a cheaper rate.

Republic Services currently charges $20.71 a month (billed quarterly) for trash pickup and provides residents with a 98 gallon trash bin. Additional bins are $2 extra and if residents have extra waste they must call ahead to notify the company. Adding recycling, which includes a separate bin, brings the monthly total to $24.36.

The fact that residents can call and get their price rate matched and pay less than other residents bothered Parsons and other trustee members when Parsons presented the issue.

“The best thing served would be for everyone to have one rate as opposed to having to call and barter,” Parsons said.

The Village of Amelia has one set rate for garbage pickup, markedly lower than Batavia residents’ at $11.34 a month. The difference is Amelia residents are limited to one trash can and the can is designed to be picked up by a device on the truck.

“Most people today are getting unlimited pickup,” Parsons said about Batavia residents. “So we have to compare apples to apples.”

The other difference is, the village of Amelia is responsible for contracting all residents’ garbage pick up. Batavia residents currently hold this responsibility and are able to pick and choose garbage companies as they wish.

Trustees did not express interest in being accountable for waste removal and Parsons said it is unlikely they will want to add waste services to their responsibilities.

For the time being, Parsons is simply looking into a way to acquire the best price for all Batavia residents. He said he has contacted both companies about their prices and discussed offering a lower price for the entire township.

Parsons also hopes that having one rate from one company will help reduce both wear and tear to the streets and noise. He will present the options to trustees, most likely at their next meeting, and move forward from there.

“It is all an attempt to save residents money,” Parsons said about his efforts.