Proposed garbage contract offers mixed bag for Batavia residents

A proposed garbage-pickup contract could save some Batavia residents money, but cost others more.

City administrators are recommending the town drop a program where people can either pay $3.40 per 32-gallon can or rent large toters.

Instead, all customers would use a 35-gallon toter, at a cost of $11.50 a month. Seniors still could use half-bags, at a cost of $2 per bag.

Residents also could rent yard-waste toters, or pay per individual can with a $2.75 sticker.

Currently, customers who rent 35-gallon refuse toters pay $22.66 a month. Those who rent a 65-gallon toter pay $23.85 a month, but would pay $12.25 under the proposed contract. And those who rent a 95-gallon toter would go from paying $25.04 a month to $13.95.

However, residents who don't put out much garbage would end up paying more. A customer who only puts out a 32-gallon can every other week now pays $88.40 a year for stickers. Their annual cost would rise to $138.

If Batavia stays with the refuse-sticker option, customers who rent toters would still pay less than they do now, but the decrease would be less substantial.

Prices for all options would increase each year. About 40 percent of Batavia customers rent toters, according to city officials.

Aldermen will discuss the proposed new five-year contract with Lakeshore Recycling of Morton Grove at a committee meeting at 7 p.m. Tuesday.

The contract is for residential garbage, recycling and yard waste. It does not include large apartment complexes, or businesses.

Other towns

Geneva and St. Charles also were part of the bid process. For Geneva customers, it should, because that city's administration is recommending it maintain the sticker program. Stickers will drop from $3.40 to $2.60 each.

It, too, may dump current contractor Advanced Disposal, in favor of Lakeshore Recycling.

Geneva aldermen will discuss the contract at a committee-of-the-whole meeting at 7 p.m. Monday.

St. Charles has not scheduled its discussion.

The current contracts for all three cities expire June 30.