Early returns show Buffalo Grove's At Your Door service a hit with residents
Buffalo Grove residents are taking advantage of a new waste collection program providing doorside collection of difficult items to dispose, such as household waste, televisions and other electronics.
Deputy Village Manager Christopher Stilling told the village board this week that 1,336 residential customers used the At Your Door program between May and December.
"This resulted in about 120,000 pounds of material that had been sent for recycling, of which, I think, just a little under 90% was eligible for recycling," he said
The village board added At Your Door last year as part of its contract extension with waste hauler Waste Management. The program allows residents to arrange for Waste Management to pick up eligible items from their homes.
Through December, the village received more than 230 comment cards showing strong support for the program, Stilling said. All but one comment card indicated that residents want the village to continue offering the service.
Village trustees, including those who were skeptical a year ago, were pleased with the report.
"I think the numbers tell the story," Trustee Lester Ottenheimer III said. "I had some questions about whether I thought this would be a viable project or not. And it's exceeded my expectations. So it's a good thing for the village. And also I think it's a good thing for the environment."
Trustee Joanne Johnson said she was one of the 1,336 customers.
"We did get rid of at least 15 gallons of old paint and a TV (and) a computer," she said.
Under the contract with Waste Management, the program will be in place until April 30, 2022. The village will then have the option of renewing the service.