Darien Garbage Debate: City May Change Haulers

DARIEN, IL — Darien is looking to change its garbage hauler, with a top official saying another company offered a better deal.

According to a city statement, the company, Morton Grove-based LRS, would charge a resident $20.95 a month for garbage service, whether for a 65- or 95-gallon rollout cart. The senior citizen price would be $10 for a smaller 35-gallon cart.

With those prices, a resident gets unlimited pickup of garbage, yard waste and recycling. The resident also could dispose one bulk item per week and take part in a food composting program, according to the statement.

The city administration plans to ask the City Council on Monday for direction to negotiate with LRS. The current hauler is Houston-based Waste Management.

One aspect of the plan may make some residents unhappy: Residents could no longer use stickers for garbage and yard waste.

All three companies submitted bids that would charge higher for sticker prices than the current $3.91.

LRS would charge $6.26 per sticker, while Waste Management would have upped its price to $6.50, plus a $5.25 fixed fee.

Groot, which was rated to have the second best offer, would charge $4 per sticker, plus a $13 fixed fee ($5 for seniors).

At City Council meetings, City Administrator Bryon Vana said many sticker users end up disposing their garbage at their workplaces, in park district containers or in neighbors' rollouts. That creates "built-in inequities" in rates, he said.

In an interview Thursday, Vana told Patch that things have changed since the city last went out to bid five years ago.

"What's different is the significant increase in sticker prices from all three companies. We anticipated the sticker prices would go up significantly," Vana said.

He said the city would get a better deal with LRS, with its offer of unlimited service.

"They are a solid company," he said. "We checked on their references, and they are all good."

Some aldermen praised the service of Waste Management and warned the city administration to be cautious with choosing a new company with better prices but poorer service.

However, Vana said all the companies pride themselves on service. He said that in his experience, the haulers quickly correct service problems.

"There's never been a service issue with the garbage companies on a consistent basis," Vana said.

Waste Management's contract expires March 30, 2022.

More information on the garbage bids will be in the City Council's agenda packet, which is set to be posted online by Thursday night.