An idea to charge Toledo residents who don't recycle a higher trash fee and nothing for those who do recycle at the curbside is admirable, but may create a budget crunch, Bill Franklin, the city's director of public service, told a council committee yesterday.

"My problem is if everyone signs up [to pay] zero, we are getting zero revenue," Mr. Franklin said during a committee of the whole meeting.

Additionally, he said people could pledge to recycle, but not actually do so - which subverts the goal of extending the life of the city's landfill on Hoffman Road.

Councilman D. Michael Collins, who drafted the proposed ordinance, said the incentive to pay nothing would increase recycling.

The proposal is the latest suggestion to replace the controversial refuse fee enacted last year as part of the 2007 general operating fund budget. It will expire April 30 unless council renews it.

Council on March 30 approved the $5.50 monthly trash fee, with the option of a $2.50 discount for people who pledge to recycle.

Before the fee, 17 percent of the city's population recycled. That percentage increased to 32 percent pledging to recycle after the trash fee was enacted.

However, Mr. Franklin yesterday said about 27 percent of people actually recycle while the remaining 5 percent get the discount and don't recycle.

"We are on the honor system," he said of the sys-tem.

Mr. Franklin estimated Mr. Collins' plan could increase recycling to 80 percent, but that creates budgeting and logistical problems.

"If we get to that 80 percent, we are looking at revenue of only about $2.8 million in 2008," he said.

Mayor Carty Finkbeiner's proposed 2008 budget depends on $4.8 million to be collected from the trash fee this year.

The city's aging fleet of recycling trucks also could pose a problem in collecting a greater amount of recyclable material, Mr. Franklin said.

Councilman George Sarantou acknowledged that the idea could increase recycling.

"If the money doesn't come in because everyone is recycling, then you have a $4.8 million problem," Mr. Sarantou said.

The city's landfill has an expected remaining life of about 27 years. Building a new landfill would cost about $80 million.

Councilman Joe McNamara, who was co-author of the ordinance, has been among councilmen seeking a way to abolish the trash fee.

The fee is charged to single-family homes, duplexes, and apartments of up to four units. Commercial and multifamily apartment complexes are required to contract for private trash hauling.

Council yesterday voted 8-0 to forward to its meeting next week a separate ordinance that would require council action to be able to collect a refuse fee beyond April 30, when the $5.50 monthly fee will expire.

Mr. McNamara, who wrote that ordinance, wants to amend a section of the Toledo Municipal Code regarding the power of the city's director of public service to include: "the authority to promulgate a rule under this section shall not include the authority to establish a refuse collection fee after April 30, 2008."

The authority to collect the refuse fee was made administratively.

Councilmen Mike Sobczak and Betty Shultz abstained. Mike Ashford and Phillip Copeland were not present.

A divided council adopted the 2007 budget that established the monthly trash collection fee.

Voting against that budget were Democrats Mr. Ashford, Mike Craig, Mr. McNamara, Frank Szollosi, and Ellen Grachek, whose term expired Dec. 31.

Mr. Sobczak last year abstained from earlier votes on the trash fee because he is vice president of Teamsters Local 20, which represents about 250 employees, mostly in refuse and waste collection.

Ms. Shultz said she abstained because she had not made up her mind on the issue.

- Ignazio Messina

First Published February 16, 2008, 12:51 p.m.