Arlington Hts. still deciding on frequency of trash collection

Arlington Heights will be keep Groot Industries as its garbage collector for at least the next five years, but officials have not yet decided if pickup will happen once or twice a week.

The village board Monday approved the staff's recommendation to accept Groot's bid and start working toward either a five- or 10-year contract to take effect when the current agreement ends in March.

Before final approval of the deal, the board will have to decide how often garbage will be collected. Residents will see savings under the new deal either way, officials said.

In August, the village staff recommended staying with Groot and not going out for bid, but the trustees decided to go through the bid process to make sure residents were getting the lowest prices. Village Manager Randy Recklaus said there were six responses, but Groot remained the least expensive and best overall option.

Groot gave the village three options for collection.

Under the first choice, garbage would be collected twice a week and residents would pay $15.75 per month, along with $2.50 for a refuse cart. The typical resident would save about $41.52 a year under that plan, according to village documents.

The second choice moves the village to once-a-week collection, with residents paying $11.50 monthly and receiving a free refuse cart. This would save residents about $92.52 annually, officials said.

A combined option would have residents paying $11.50 per month for once-a-week collection or paying $7 extra every month for twice-a-week pickup. All residents would receive a free refuse cart.

The senior discount would be reduced from 25 percent to 15 percent under either option with once-a-week removal, Recklaus said.

"All of these options include expanded services to the village that save us money," he said.

Under the new contract, Groot will nearly triple the number of recycling cans downtown from seven to 20. It also has agreed to handle garbage collection from the Mane Event and Taste of Arlington Heights, as well as collect from the downtown train station year-round and from the public works street sweeper and leaf collection program. Recklaus said the additional services will help the village save about $30,000 a year.

The prices are among the most competitive in the 23 communities that are members the Solid Waste Agency of Northern Cook County, he said.

"This proposal really validates the village board's decision to go for a request for proposals," Recklaus said. "These costs will be among the lowest in the entire region."

The proposal also includes options for a food waste collection program, different pricing options for landscape waste stickers in the fall leaf season, and the possibility of a 10-year contract.

Next, the village board will have to make a decision on the frequency of garbage collection, often a divisive issue in town. A study done five years ago found residents split nearly 50-50.

Several trustees, including Jim Tinaglia, Mike Sidor and John Scaletta, said they would be in favor of once-a-week garbage collection. Trustee Bert Rosenberg recused himself from the conversation because of a professional conflict.

Scaletta said his concerns are about saving money and saving the roads from the wear and tear of having the heavy garbage trucks out so often.

"I think this is a win-win for all the residents and the village," he said.