Buffalo Grove sticks with Waste Management for trash collection

In the end, Buffalo Grove decided it is better to go with the waste hauler it knows rather than the one it doesn’t.

The village board, after delaying a decision for two weeks, chose by a unanimous vote Monday to negotiate a new five-year contract with its longtime hauler, Waste Management of Illinois.

Republic Services ran a close second and even put in a lower bid — although the difference amounted to only 61 cents per month.

For twice per week pickup, Waste Management offered a 5-year cost at $1,123.60.

Trustees last month postponed a vote on the matter to allow the village to re-solicit bids on one aspect of the service, the twice-weekly subscription service, so that the bids would offer twice-per-week refuse pickup, once-per-week recycling pickup and once-per-week landscape pickup. Although officials said they were impressed with both proposals, Village Manager Dane Bragg said Waste Management was chosen “to ensure the greatest continuity of service without disruption to our residents,” as well as “to ensure a stable and predictable rate structure for the next five years.”

Bragg said that in addition to the existing cart recycling program, Waste Management will add cart service for refuse.

Both village and Waste Management officials noted the long-term relationship between the company and community. Waste Management’s Michael Brink said the company has provided extra pickups at special events at no charge, and offered extra help to residents during last year’s power outages. He added that Buffalo Grove was the first community in Illinois it provided with curbside recycling.

Trustees said the small savings offered by the rival waste hauler was not enough to offset the long relationship with Waste Management.

“I’m all for saving our residents money wherever we can,” Trustee Michael Terson said. “However, it is very possible that Waste Management has been partnered with the village of Buffalo Grove longer than I have been alive. Over that course of time, I have had communications with Waste Management as a customer long before I was ever elected, and I found their responses to be above and beyond what my expectations were.

“I am not willing to risk what I know is excellent service that our community expects over 61 cents a month,” he added.