Hanover Park expanding recycling for residents

Hanover Park officials are taking steps they hope could increase recycling in the village by more than 40 percent.

In early fall, residents living in single-family homes, townhouses and duplexes will receive 60-gallon rolling recycling toters with covers, similar to their garbage receptacles. It's a giant upgrade from the 18-gallon uncovered bins the village has distributed for roughly the last 15 years, Public Works Director Howard Killian said.

"We heard concerns from residents who said their recycling would blow away or that people would quit recycling altogether once their container was filled," Killian said.

However, the added convenience comes with a price. Supplying nearly 10,000 households with the larger recycling toters will cost between $600,000 and $700,000, under the $11.1 million deal with Allied Waste Services approved last week by the village board.

As a result, residents currently paying $17.76 per month for trash and recycling collection will pay $18.83, or 6 percent more, starting July 1. The fee then jumps 3.5 percent annually over the next four years, reaching $21.61 per month in July 2014.

Hanover Park officials looked at ways to help offset the cost, such as taking over billing from Allied Waste Services. But Killian said the added responsibilities and liability for customers who don't pay weren't worth the money saved.

Trustees did agree to eliminate an annual newsletter outlining Allied's services, saving the village $10,000.

The village also discussed transitioning to unlimited yard waste collection, but that would cost $2 monthly per household, and Killian said it would penalize residents who don't use the service.

Killian reminded residents that the village offers drop-off recycling for items including electronics, household batteries and compact fluorescent light bulbs at the Public Works garage, 2121 W. Lake St.