ASHTABULA – RoLesia Holman, the Ward 3 councilor for the City of Ashtabula, said seeing the curbside recycling program expanded to the remainder of the city was “both a profound relief and a tremendous reward.”
Holman, who has pushed for the recycling program to be expanded, saw that dream finally realized on July 6 when Ashtabula City Council voted 5-1 to pass an ordinance authorizing the city manager to purchase recycling and rubbish containers from Wastequip, LLC of Charlotte, N.C., in an amount not to exceed $296,030 to complete the city’s curbside recycling program.
Up to now, the program only has been in place for Wards 1 and 2 and a part of Ward 3 in the city. The city has five Wards.
According to city Finance Director Vladimir Kan, the city will now transfer $235,095 from the General Fund to the Sanitation Enterprise Fund and also use $60,935 in leftovers from a recycling grant to pay for the expense.
“For over four years, I have advocated for health and financial equity in our city services,” Holman said. “Previously, this program operated as a pilot primarily benefiting Wards 1 and 2, leaving the rest of our city—including the vast majority of Ward 3—without equal access. The turning point came when community voices collaborated, utilizing platforms like social media to shine a light on this long-standing imbalance. When it became clear that a nine-year ‘pilot’ had evolved into an inequitable distribution of resources based on income levels, action was demanded. This is a hard-won victory for fairness, ensuring that basic city services are provided to all residents, not just a select few.”
On Ashtabula City Council, Holman chairs council’s Ad hoc Committee Exploring Racism as a Public Health Crisis. One of the other committee members also expressed his pleasure about recycling being expanded to the rest of the city.
“It’s great that everybody has equal access to both garbage and recycling in the city now,” Louis Murphy, a member of the committee, said. “I think not only is it a show of good faith toward equity and something that should have already been occurring, but I also think it’s good for our community and our environment, to keep them clean as possible.”
Holman gave some insight into her vote.
“I’ve observed that a standard politician often focuses on the path of least resistance or the next election cycle,” she said. “I represent Ward III, and I have looked at the structural foundations of my community and of the city. During my terms as an elected official, I have asked for evidence-based governance and the equitable distribution of resources from the city. I have had to take on unglamorous but vital fights—like this multi-year battle over trash collection/recycling—because I understand how it connects directly to larger issues of public health and systemic fairness. I will continue to focus on holding leadership accountable to all taxpayers, rather than just a privileged few, and reflect a commitment to the long-term integrity of Ashtabula.”
Holman said she believes the majority of the city’s residents will deeply appreciate the change.
“On a practical level, residents will no longer have to purchase their own containers, and those who value environmental stewardship will finally have a straightforward way to separate recyclables from regular refuse,” she said. “Furthermore, this is a matter of fundamental fairness. Residents who pay the same city taxes expect and deserve the same city services. It simply made no sense that taxpayers in certain wards were subsidizing a service from which they were excluded. Finally, this step forward supports our environmentally conscious neighbors and our local business owners by making responsible disposal accessible, equitable, and more cost-effective.”
She thought council’s action was “a significant step forward for Ashtabula.”
“Having chaired the Ad hoc Committee exploring systemic inequities as a public health crisis, several recommendations regarding city services were raised to the council,” she said. “Equalizing waste management was one of them. Beyond the clear environmental benefits of reducing landfill waste, this addresses a core health inequity. When residents face unequal financial burdens in managing refuse, it creates systemic sanitation challenges. Accumulated trash attracts pests, harbors unsanitary conditions, and ultimately impacts neighborhood safety and public health.”
Now that this legislation has passed, Holman said, every resident will receive appropriate bins, regardless of their Ward address.
“While I am relieved this finally moved forward, it is telling that after four-and-a-half years of advocacy, the final vote was still not unanimous,” she added. “One has to wonder why there remains any reluctance on the council to provide equal services to residents across all wards, especially when the funding is readily available. Nevertheless, I am glad that the majority of the council, alongside our administrators and finance department, ultimately chose collaboration. In this instance, equity has finally been achieved.”
Council President John Roskovics was the sole no vote.
Previously, he explained his reasoning. He said, “As you know we did not get the recycling grant and we do not have extra funds in our sanitation account; therefore, there is no money for new garbage/recycling containers.” He was referring to the denial of a grant by the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) earlier this year when the city had sought funding for expanding the curbside recycling pickup. Roskovics was opposed to moving the money from the General Fund, however.
“The thought is to take the $300,000 from the General Fund, which is allowed in emergency situations,” he said previously. “I do not believe buying these trash containers is an emergency. It would be nice to have the whole city recycling, but I don’t think it’s urgent. We have so many more pressing needs. I know a few councilors have been pushing this issue. But I remember lean financial times and how hard the manager and council have worked to create a healthier financial balance. I am considering the big picture, so I cannot support this effort.”
