Darien Under Pressure On Trash Stickers

DARIEN, IL — The Darien city administration's position is simple: Do away with the option of stickers for trash service. That's because those with rollout containers may end up subsidizing sticker users.

Last month, City Administrator Bryon Vana told the City Council that an inequity existed in garbage rates, especially because many people take their garbage elsewhere.

But like five years ago, the city is getting pressure to keep the sticker option on the table. At Monday's City Council meeting, Vana unveiled the administration's proposal to seek bids from garbage companies for two options — one for rollout containers only and the other that would include stickers as an alternative.

During public input, resident Jim Bulla, who lives on Drover Lane, pleaded with the city not to even consider stickers as an option. He said he made the same case to the city five years ago, to no avail.

Bulla said he sees people dumping their trash at workplaces or in local park dumpsters. He also said sticker users roll out their recycling weekly, which involves no extra fee, but often do not put out their garbage.

"People say they save their garbage, but not their recycling," he said. "My estimate is that 25 percent of homeowners pay little or nothing for the service. Is that fair?"

Bulla noted the argument that senior citizens and others with low amounts of garbage benefit from stickers.

"Seniors say they can't afford garbage, even though they have $400,000 homes," said Bulla, a senior citizen himself.

At the same time, he said he did not mean to imply all sticker users cheated the system.

City officials did not respond to Bulla's comments. They have made no commitment on stickers, but have said previously they want to see what companies offer for both options.