Trash costs likely going up in Wheaton

Wheaton residents will have more green in their environment but less green in their wallets when a new trash hauler comes to town.

The Wheaton city council informally agreed to switch trash hauling companies Monday night in a plan designed to revive falling recycling rates in the city.

The change means a significant cost increase to Wheaton residents to get rid of their garbage.

The city estimates the average resident spends about $184 a year on trash pickup. The new plan would see the average resident spend about $265 a year for trash pickup.

The impact of the $81-a-year increase was not lost on the council. Councilmen Howard Levine and Tom Mouhelis both said they couldn't support the change. Both said their opposition stems from the change not being the cheapest option and the belief that many residents can't or won't increase their recycling.

"This cost is a huge increase just on its face," Levine said. "I don't think everyone is going to benefit from it, but everyone is certainly going to pay the cost. That's my problem with it. I am not going to support it."

Wheaton could stick with the exact same trash removal plan it has now. However, even the cost for that plan would rise, mostly because of increasing fuel costs. Keeping the status quo would cost about $244 a year for the average resident.

Assistant City Manager Mike Dzugan urged the city council to go with the more expensive program because the long-term benefits are possibly greater. The new system would provide new 64-gallon recycling carts to each resident. Studies show the larger carts increase recycling as much as 8 percent in a community because residents usually throw away items they can't cram into the current smaller recycling containers. Less trash means less money spent to remove it.

The city council identified pursuing environmentally friendly policies as one of its main goals for this year. Mayor Mike Gresk said going with the more expensive program is a tough choice, but necessary to avoid hypocrisy.

"We've talked the talk, now it's time, as a council, to walk the walk," Gresk said.

The council will take a final, official vote on the matter in a couple weeks.