Aurora considering new waste hauling program
In an effort to improve services and decrease costs, Aurora is considering an improved waste-hauling program and is seeking input from residents.
Under the proposed program, the city's current contracted waste hauler, Republic Services, would provide every household in Aurora two carts, one for garbage and another for recycling. Any refuse tossed in the carts would no longer require a garbage sticker for collection.
The proposed program would save residents money over the current stickered collection program. Under the current program, the average Aurora family that uses just one sticker a week spends $14.58 each month on trash collection. Under the proposed program, the average Aurora family that uses one standard 65-gallon cart would spend $13.25 each month, paid quarterly to the city's waste hauler.
For residents who already use 65-gallon refuse carts, the monthly price of those carts would decrease by $2.45, from $15.70 to $13.25.
For additional savings, residents could opt for one of three different garbage cart sizes - 35 gallons, 65 gallons, or 95 gallons - to meet the needs of their families. Families that produce little trash could pay $10.30 a month for the smaller container, while larger families that now must typically use more than one sticker a week could save by using a large 95-gallon container for $19.05 a month.
The proposed collection program would continue to include unlimited recycling. Residents would be provided 65-gallon wheeled and covered recycling carts, which offer triple the capacity of current recycling bins, making sustainable habits more convenient for residents at no additional cost.
The program would leave unchanged popular services, including free spring and fall yard waste collection, ward clean up days and holiday tree collection. Residents would have the flexibility to purchase stickers for bulk items or occasional excess trash that does not fit in the cart.
Plus, seniors who already participate in the reduced-cost senior bag program could opt out of the garbage cart program and continue to save by using the reduced-cost bags along with the free recycling carts.
In addition to reducing costs for residents, garbage and recycling carts have several benefits to residents and neighborhoods. The more secure carts prevent trash from blowing in neighborhoods, keep wildlife from scavenging through trash, improve neighborhood aesthetics by providing uniformity, save residents the hassle of purchasing stickers and deter illegal dumping.
Residents are encouraged to learn more and provide comments on the proposed garbage and recycling cart program at three open houses:
• 4 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 19, at the Phillips Park Stover Visitor Center, 1000 Ray Moses Drive.
• 4 to 7 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 20, at the Vaughan Athletic Center, 2121 W. Indian Trail.
• 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, Nov. 22, at the Eola Community Center, 555 S. Eola Road.
Staff members will be on hand to answer questions and take comments from residents. In addition, the proposed carts are on display in the lobbies of the aldermen's office, 60 E. Downer Place; city hall, 44 E. Downer Place; the customer service center, 3770 McCoy Drive; and all three Aurora Public Library branches.
For more information on the proposed garbage and recycling cart program, call the city's customer service line at (630) 256-INFO (4636) or visit www.aurora-il.org.