The city of Akron and trash hauler WM have drafted an agreement that they hope will ease residents’ concerns as the company moves forward with plans to decommission a Middlebury facility and replace it with a modern waste transfer and recycling operation in East Akron.
Neighbors of the WM (formerly Waste Management) plant in Middlebury have long complained about it, and East Akron residents want assurances the new site will not be a nuisance. The development agreement, which faces a vote from Akron City Council, aims to satisfy concerns about both sites and resolve legal issues related to the move.
Casey Shevlin, Akron’s director of sustainability and resiliency, said stakeholders were instrumental in helping craft the agreement.
“We had a pretty good idea … about community priorities and concerns relative to this project because of the work we did in ’24 and ’25,” Shevlin said. “But we wanted to make certain that we understood, and we wanted to document the priorities and concerns more closely, more rigorously and more publicly.”
Their input, solicited by the city, resulted in a range of stipulations to which WM must adhere regarding its new facility planned for 1400 Archwood Ave.
Akron City Council must approve the agreement, introduced to council at its May 11 meeting, before it can be executed.
The agreement states that WM, beginning April 1, 2027, must contribute $1 million over 10 years – $100,000 annually – “to a community fund with a resident-led board at Akron Community Foundation (or similar third-party foundation) for improvements in a defined area encompassing both Middlebury and East Akron,” according to a summary released by the city.
Furthermore, WM will contribute an additional $40,000 annually to the fund to serve Joy Park for as long as the new Archwood facility operates, Shevlin said.
The agreement also formalizes the plan to close permanently the waste transfer site at 389 Fountain St. in Middlebury within 90 days of the opening of the replacement facility on Archwood Avenue.
“This agreement reflects our commitment to delivering a solution that improves quality of life while modernizing essential services,” said Akron Mayor Shammas Malik in a prepared statement.
Here’s more of what we know about the agreement.
What else is in the agreement with WM?
The agreement also includes the following community-driven components:
What do stakeholders think of the city’s agreement with WM?
Marc A. Tibbs, senior pastor at Centenary United Methodist Church and a principal of the Akron Community Action Network (CAN) said the agreement comes “very close” to meeting the organization’s priorities. The city engaged CAN while formulating the agreement.
“There are just a few areas that we would differ on,” he said.
Tibbs said $1 million over 10 years isn’t enough to account for the 50 years of suffering endured by residents living near the Fountain Street transfer station.
Ward 5 City Councilman Johnnie Hannah – in whose ward the Archwood facility will be built – asked Shevlin how the city settled for $1 million over 10 years when WM is a $90 billion company. He pointed out that $1 million now is different in value than $1 million in 10 years.
Shevlin said the city began negotiations with WM with the community’s ask for direct reparations to households. Two months of negotiations resulted in the $1 million contribution.
Hannah asked if the city could ask for more from WM.
Shevlin said, “No, I don’t think we could ask for more. Just back-of-the-napkin math – the $1 million contribution over 10 years, the $40,000 contribution already on the books for Joy Park, (WM) will exceed 10% of the capital cost of the project in the first 10 to 15 years. I challenge anyone to find another project anywhere in the country with that level of contribution back to the community from the capital project.”
What is the timeline for the construction of the Archwood facility?
Via email, city spokeswoman Stephanie Marsh said, “If the agreement is approved by City Council and WM is able to begin construction in a timely manner, they expect to complete construction of the new facility in 2027.”
She said that getting the facility constructed and operational depends on when WM receives the necessary permits and approvals, including for the proposed development agreement.
“If the agreement is immediately approved by City Council and all permits are obtained, WM is obligated, by contract, to use its best efforts to complete facility construction within 12 months,” Marsh said. “If council withholds immediate approval, then it’s almost certain that Fountain Street will continue to operate in 2028, and potentially beyond.”
Contact reporter Derek Kreider at DKreider@Gannett.com or 330-541-9413.
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Akron hammers out agreement for waste transfer station to relocate
Reporting by Derek Kreider, Akron Beacon Journal / Akron Beacon Journal
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