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The issue
The end of the month will mark one year since the village switched from Allied Waste and entered into a three-year solid waste removal contract with ARC Disposal and Recycling Inc. According to the village, ARC collects waste from about 14,000 households in Downers Grove. During the March 10 Village Council meeting, village staff presented an informational update about the status of the services provided by ARC.
What we knew
A few months into the transition, residents voiced some concerns including trash escaping from the trucks and missed pick-ups. Since then, ARC retrofitted the trucks to contain the waste. Also, truck drivers are required to come to a full stop when depositing trash into the truck. According to the village, some missed pick-ups were resulting from neighborhood construction. The village is modifying its internal communication process so that everyone is notified of construction and pickups are maintained.
What happened
During the March 10 Village Council meeting, condominium owner H.D. Mitchell asked the board to consider extending the contract to include service for condos. “As condominium homeowners, we ask again to be included in the village contract with ARC,” Mitchell said. “As village residents and taxpayers, we are currently excluded from that important contract and therefore, disenfranchised with the result that we are forced to pay commercial rates. These rates are typically a great deal more than single-family homeowners pay under the contract.”
What’s next
Sticker prices and the monthly fees for the rented ARC trash carts will increase beginning April 1. The refuse/yard waste sticker prices will increase from $2.85 to $2.96. The 65-gallon cart rental fee will increase monthly from $15.15 to $15.76 and the 95-gallon will increase from $19.70 to $20.49. Those fees will increase again in April 2010.
The issue
Along with refuse pickup, ARC also took over the collection of recycables from single-family homes in the village. Condominiums and apartments are not a part of the contract with ARC. Mayor Ron Sandack said those residential buildings operate under individual commercial contracts.
What we knew
According to ARC, some residents were initially placing nonrecyclables in the recycling bins. In response, the village has posted a list of accepted items on its Web site, downers.us. There was also some concern over refuse and recycables being collected in the same truck. According to the village, this happens rarely because of truck capacity constraints.
What happened
Commissioner Marilyn Schnell said during the meeting that residents have inquired about obtaining a recycling bin larger than the 18-gallon bin. “I think it’s something our residents are truly asking for, and I know there are concerns about the cleanliness in the neighborhoods. If you get a windy day and you put the recycables out they blow all over the place”
What’s next
Sandack said the recycling cart, similar in size to the trash cart, looks nicer and is more safe. “I think what the issue for us really is the timing of when we could have those negotiations and discussions given what we got on our plate right now. I don’t think anyone is adverse to having that discussion, and we ought to think about when the right time is to start it.
The issue
The end of the month will mark one year since the village switched from Allied Waste and entered into a three-year solid waste removal contract with ARC Disposal and Recycling Inc. According to the village, ARC collects waste from about 14,000 households in Downers Grove. During the March 10 Village Council meeting, village staff presented an informational update about the status of the services provided by ARC.
What we knew
A few months into the transition, residents voiced some concerns including trash escaping from the trucks and missed pick-ups. Since then, ARC retrofitted the trucks to contain the waste. Also, truck drivers are required to come to a full stop when depositing trash into the truck. According to the village, some missed pick-ups were resulting from neighborhood construction. The village is modifying its internal communication process so that everyone is notified of construction and pickups are maintained.
What happened
During the March 10 Village Council meeting, condominium owner H.D. Mitchell asked the board to consider extending the contract to include service for condos. “As condominium homeowners, we ask again to be included in the village contract with ARC,” Mitchell said. “As village residents and taxpayers, we are currently excluded from that important contract and therefore, disenfranchised with the result that we are forced to pay commercial rates. These rates are typically a great deal more than single-family homeowners pay under the contract.”
What’s next
Sticker prices and the monthly fees for the rented ARC trash carts will increase beginning April 1. The refuse/yard waste sticker prices will increase from $2.85 to $2.96. The 65-gallon cart rental fee will increase monthly from $15.15 to $15.76 and the 95-gallon will increase from $19.70 to $20.49. Those fees will increase again in April 2010.
The issue
Along with refuse pickup, ARC also took over the collection of recycables from single-family homes in the village. Condominiums and apartments are not a part of the contract with ARC. Mayor Ron Sandack said those residential buildings operate under individual commercial contracts.
What we knew
According to ARC, some residents were initially placing nonrecyclables in the recycling bins. In response, the village has posted a list of accepted items on its Web site, downers.us. There was also some concern over refuse and recycables being collected in the same truck. According to the village, this happens rarely because of truck capacity constraints.
What happened
Commissioner Marilyn Schnell said during the meeting that residents have inquired about obtaining a recycling bin larger than the 18-gallon bin. “I think it’s something our residents are truly asking for, and I know there are concerns about the cleanliness in the neighborhoods. If you get a windy day and you put the recycables out they blow all over the place”
What’s next
Sandack said the recycling cart, similar in size to the trash cart, looks nicer and is more safe. “I think what the issue for us really is the timing of when we could have those negotiations and discussions given what we got on our plate right now. I don’t think anyone is adverse to having that discussion, and we ought to think about when the right time is to start it.
