Cleveland Heights is gearing up for a major green upgrade, with City Council set to weigh a pair of ordinances that would beef up the city’s free composting program and install eight public electric-vehicle chargers. The plan would pull existing private drop-off sites into a single citywide system, while adding four charging ports outside City Hall and four more at the Cleveland Heights Community Center. City officials say the dual effort is about keeping food scraps out of landfills and giving drivers more spots to plug in around town.
According to Cleveland.com, the legislation would expand the municipal composting pilot, which officials say enrolled about 600 households and diverted roughly 34,000 pounds (about 17 tons) of food scraps, producing nearly 75 cubic yards of compost, then scale that model citywide. The proposed expansion is expected to run about $100,000 a year, with the new composting contract capped at $77,350. On the EV side, the project carries a projected total cost of about $660,000, backed by a roughly $500,000 NOACA grant and a planned $140,000 NOPEC contribution to cover the local match.
Municipal composting grows beyond the pilot
The City of Cleveland Heights says its municipal drop-off program, operated with Rust Belt Riders, currently offers bins at Dave’s Supermarket in Severance Town Center and at Noble Library. The sites are serviced weekly, and residents sign up online. According to the city’s composting page on the City of Cleveland Heights website, participants receive a code to unlock the bins and are allowed to compost most foods, including meat and dairy. Earlier this year, local coverage highlighted the Noble Road Library addition to the pilot, which expanded access for residents in that neighborhood with a Noble Road Library compost site.
Officials say grants make the math work
Mayor Jim Petras told Cleveland.com that "we have $300,000 sitting in our nopec account that we have to use by November," adding that city leaders are "very excited to expand that program." Councilwoman Jessica Cohen said the chargers would probably be installed in 2027, a timeline that officials say reflects the time needed for procurement and construction.
What’s next and how it will be paid for
Council is scheduled to vote on the ordinances at its May 18 meeting, according to the City calendar. NOACA’s regional EV charging program also provides design and construction support for municipal charging stations, which is why Cleveland Heights applied for and accepted a NOACA award, as detailed in NOACA materials. If the ordinances are approved, officials say the city will move to finalize contracts, lock in the local match, and start procurement, with chargers and the broader composting service potentially coming online within the next year or two.
How residents can take part
Residents who want in on the municipal composting program can register through Rust Belt Riders and use the city’s designated drop-off bins. The service accepts most food scraps and is serviced weekly. For details on what can be dropped off and how to sign up, see Rust Belt Riders' guidance on what can I compost. The May 18 council vote will be the next chance for residents to hear more about the plan and weigh in on its future.
