Garbage, recycling fees to go up in Mundelein

Garbage removal and recycling will cost slightly more for Mundelein residents starting in October, officials have decided.

The village board recently agreed to increase the fees people pay to Groot Industries, the Elk Grove Village firm with an exclusive residential waste-hauling contract in the village.

That contract, adopted in March 2009, calls for annual rate increases of 2 percent to 4 percent, based on the cost of living. The board unanimously agreed to a 2 percent increase.

Starting Oct. 1:

• Unlimited curbside garbage removal will cost $21.27 a month, up from $20.85.

•Senior-citizen garbage removal will cost $17.85 a month, up from $17.50.

•Recycling services without garbage removal will cost $7.55 a month, up from $7.40.

•Pay-by-the-bag garbage removal or recycling will cost $2.55, up from $2.50.

•The annual yard-waste subscription will cost $102, up from $100.

It's the first price increase since the contract was adopted.

The village's deal with Groot only applies to Mundelein's roughly 9,500 single-family homes and duplexes. Condominium buildings, apartment buildings and businesses are not covered by the exclusive agreement, so their owners can choose from Groot or other firms for garbage removal services.

Village Administrator John Lobaito called the rate increase fair to residents. Most residents' garbage rates decreased when the village signed the exclusive deal with Groot, he said, so they should have seen more than a year's worth of savings.

Additionally, gradual increases built into the contract are better than a sudden, big increase, Lobaito said.

"In that way, I think it helps people adjust," he said.