Politics & Government

Fee Increase is Headed to Your Curb

Aldermen debate best way to increase waste removal fees.

Elmhurst aldermen debated on Monday how to structure new waste removal fees, but no matter how you slice it, residents are going to pay more.

Allied Waste is passing along a 4.5 percent rate increase to the city. Also included in the rate adjustment is the city’s administrative costs for waste removal. The Public Works and Buildings Committee has been discussing how to distribute the increase among residents since February, but committee members were split down the middle on their recommendation to the council.

Ultimately, City Council members approved the majority report recommendation put forth by committee members Jim Kennedy and Chris Healy. Residents who use the 33-gallon receptacles will now pay $14.65 a month, up from $14.03, and those using the 96-gallon containers will pay $21.21 a month, up from $20.76. Cost for garbage and yard waste stickers will remain the same, at $2.25.

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While Kennedy and Healy said the increase is not equitable for all residents, it’s the best they can do until the contract with Allied Waste can be re-negotiated next year.

But committee member Michael Bram said the majority report is “flawed.” He said the per-gallon rate for the smaller containers is about twice the rate of the large receptacles.

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“We’re increasing the cost to send less waste to our landfills,” he said. “It’s about sending a message. I want to send the message that if you’re able to use a smaller container, you should be charged the least amount possible. I believe in sustainability and trying to do our best for the environment, reducing what goes into the landfill and trying to save every penny for seniors.”

While about 5,300 homes have the large containers, just less than 8,000 homes, many of them owned by senior citizens, use the smaller ones.

Bram and committee member Pat Shea proposed that residents using 33-gallon cans pay $14.20 a month and those using 96-gallon totes pay $21.43. They said the waste stickers should increase from $2.25 to $2.40.

Shea said their minority report is a fair distribution of fees and does not penalize residents for producing less garbage.

Alderman Paula Pezza said Bram and Shea’s recommendation follows the sustainability policy adopted by the City Council several years ago.

“We should commit to this policy,” she said. “I believe the minority report does incorporate that to a higher degree. It almost forces us to be more aware; it encourages less waste and more recycling.”

Alderman Mark Mulliner said he would like to support the minority report, but it should be addressed during the next contract negotiation with Allied.

“Everyone wants to do the same thing, it’s just, how do we get there?,” he said. “It does promote recycling if we get more people using 33 gallon (cans).”

But Alderman Mark Levin said the city is not going to change people’s habits by saving them only a few dollars over the course of a year. And Alderman Susan Rose said the sticker fee increase would end up punishing people who use the smaller containers, because they usually are the ones who need to buy the stickers from time to time, like after they entertain guests.

“It will be a burden on small families and seniors,” she said. “The primary reason I can’t support the minority report is the change in the sticker price.”

The majority report passed by a vote of 10-4, with aldermen Pezza, Shea, Bram and Diane Gutenkauf voting against it.

Since 2000, resident fees for 33-gallon totes increased by 62 percent, from $9.07 to $14.65; fees for the 96-gallon can increase 77 percent, from $12 to $21.21. Refuse stickers increased 80 percent since 2000, from $1.25 to $2.25. 


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