Politics & Government

Trustees to Talk Trash Tonight

This evening's Committee of the Whole meeting will include a discussion about Republic Services' new five-year proposal for waste services, which would see a covered recycling cart delivered to every home, and rates for disposal rise each year.

Tonight, Montgomery trustees will start discussing in earnest whether to stick with Republic Services for trash service, or go with another vendor.

The ’s current contract with Republic (formerly Allied Waste Services) was signed in 2007, and expires in March of next year. Director Mike Pubentz is considering options, and at the direction of the Village Board, he’s been negotiating with Republic while preparing to issue a request for proposals to other vendors.

At tonight’s Committee of the Whole meeting, Pubentz will present the latest five-year proposal from Republic, which would see each home receive a covered recycling container, and disposal rates rise each year.

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The current agreement costs residents $15.50 per month. Under that contract, Republic picks up two 33-gallon plastic bags, or the contents of two garbage containers, per week. Any amount of trash over that, including bulk items, must be stickered, and paid for separately.

Republic will also take recyclables in 25-gallon bins, and one bag of yard waste or one bundle of brush each week. The village also has a senior program that allows those 65 and older to buy 14-gallon trash bags at a discounted rate, and avoid the monthly fee.

Find out what's happening in Montgomerywith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Republic’s new proposal would see the contract extended until 2016, with monthly rates rising each year: $16.80 in 2012, $17.47 in 2013, $18.17 in 2014, $18.90 in 2015, and $19.65 in 2016. The specifics of the program would remain largely the same, save for the 65-gallon recycling cart. Republic will offer a choice of sizes for the recycling cart as well.

Residents would also be able to rent covered carts for trash removal. According to Republic’s proposal, the carts would be delivered for a $15 fee, and would cost $3.50 a month for a 95-gallon cart, $3.25 a month for a 65-gallon cart, and $3 a month for a 35-gallon cart.

Rates for stickers—for bulk items or other trash above the allotted amount—would stay at $2.50 for 2012, but rise each year after that: $2.60 in 2013, $2.70 in 2014, $2.81 in 2015 and $2.92 in 2016. However, the $2-per-household fee for cleanup days would be eliminated under the new proposal.

Rates for senior bags would also rise. At current, bags cost $1.31 each. Under Republic’s proposal, that price would rise to $1.50 in 2012, $1.55 in 2013, $1.60 in 2014, $1.65 in 2015, and $1.70 in 2016.

None of this is official—negotiations continue, and the Village Board must vote on any such proposal before it takes effect. Trustees will discuss the issue tonight at 7 p.m.

Tonight’s meeting is at Village Hall, and is free and open to the public.

One month ago, Pubentz unveiled the results of a village-wide survey of trash services. 74 residents filled out the survey, choosing from several options for trash and recycling service.

The majority of respondents—42 percent—asked for covered trash and recycling carts to be added to the current waste program. 24 percent asked for no changes, while 16 percent wished for a covered recycling cart to be added.

A fourth option to launch a pay-as-you-throw system based entirely on stickers pulled in 16 percent of the vote, and one person said yes to a more expensive three-cart system, for trash, recycling and yard waste.


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