LAKEWOOD, Ohio -- There is controversy in Lakewood after the city says it will no longer pick up trash from apartment costs, a decision made to help cut costs.

Landlords and tenants are not happy about the city's decision to cut this service, and even more upset that the cost to replace the service could get passed on to them.

Charlie Calanni owns seven apartment buildings in Lakewood and he's upset about the city's decision to discontinue weekly trash pickup from apartment buildings with five or more units, beginning today.

"I don't feel good about it. We pay our taxes. Seems like we're getting something taken away," Calanni said.

Replacing the city's service with a private trash contractor will hit Calanni hard in the wallet.

"It's going to be right around $140 a month extra per building," he said.

Cutting the trash service will affect approximately 300 apartment buildings and will save the city about $150,000 in disposal and labor costs per year.

"To keep from having to raise taxes or put refuse fees on everybody the city decided to take that measure," said Joe Beno, Lakewood's director of public works.

The city will continue to collect yard waste, recycled products and large items such as furniture and appliances from apartments.

Residents like John Lusk, who's lived in an apartment for eight years, said in this economy everyone has to make sacrifices.

"I have no problem with it. Lakewood has to do what it has to do, it's got a budget problem," Lusk said.

But apartment owners said that creates bigger problems, by passing the cost on to his tenants to hire a private trash company.

"At this point it's going to be really tough with the way the economy is, but this is getting squeezed," Calanni said.

Property owners with questions about the change can contact the division of refuse and recycling at 216-252-4322.