Lincolnshire debates new trash plan

Foes of a plan to have a single company remove local businesses' garbage sparred with Lincolnshire officials over the proposal during a public meeting Monday night.

The proposed deal would apply to 175 local businesses and a few multifamily residential complexes. Right now, businesses may choose their garbage company.

Officials say a village-wide franchise arrangement similar to the one already covering residential neighborhoods could reduce the number of garbage trucks on local roads and lower businesses' costs.

But the Illinois chapter of the National Solid Wastes Management Association, a trade group representing trash haulers, opposes the deal. Group representatives have said a deal with a single firm would create an unfair monopoly, wouldn't save business owners money and will include a franchise fee that will be a hidden tax, passed on to customers.

Peggy Macenas, the group's executive director, criticized the plan at Monday's committee-of-the-whole meeting and urged the village board to ditch the plan.

"It's fixing something that's not broken," she said.

Owners of a few area businesses, including one garbage service, opposed the plan at the meeting, too.

The Solid Waste Agency of Lake County has worked with the village on the proposal. Executive Director Walter S. Willis called the term "monopoly" an exaggeration.

"There is competition built into the process," Willis said.

Three firms - Groot, Veolia and Waste Management - all have submitted bids. Waste Management has been the village's exclusive residential waste hauler for more than a decade.

Willis also objected to Macenas' description of the franchise fee as a hidden tax that would be passed on to customers.

"Businesses will have lower costs," he said. "There is no need for them to pass on their franchise fees."

Village Manager Robert Irvin also bristled at the talk of hidden taxes.

"We're talking about it tonight," Irvin told Macenas as she stood at a microphone near the board's dais. "That's hidden?"

Trustee Karen Feldman objected to automated calls Macenas' group made to local residents about the issue.

The board didn't vote on the issue Monday.

If the plan proceeds, a public meeting likely will be held in March. The board could vote on a deal in April.

If a deal is approved, the contract would become effective in summer 2011.