Hike In Trash Collection Fee Approved In Buffalo Grove

BUFFALO GROVE, IL — The cost of trash collection is going up in Buffalo Grove. Citing a decline in the refuse fund reserve as a result of an increased cost in having residential solid waste transferred to Glenview as part of an agreement with the Solid Waste Agency of Northern Cook County, the Buffalo Grove Village Board voted earlier this month for a 50-cent monthly increase.

As a result, the fee increases from $5.65 to $6.15 per month for residents in single-family homes and from $4.55 to $5.05 for multifamily dwellings. The changes go into effect on May 1.

Christopher Stilling, director of community development, expressed concerns to the Village Board at a March 15 meeting that if the rate adjustment didn't change, the refuse fund could have a negative balance by 2024.

"I want to make sure we're doing this on a yearly basis because I believe it's more palatable for residents to absorb a 1 or 2 percent increase rather than 8 0r 10 every several years," Village Trustee Eric Smith said.

Pursuant to the Village's member agreement with SWANCC, Waste Management, is obligated to take all the Village’s residential solid waste to the Glenview transfer station where it is then transported to a landfill, according to an agenda item from the March 15 Village Board meeting. The SWANCC fee is a separate charge and not part of the Village's contract with Waste Management.

According to the contract, Waste Management collects the fee on behalf of the Village as part of the residential refuse and recycling bill and remits the revenue back to the Village on a monthly basis. SWANCC bills the Village on a monthly basis based on its allotted tonnage. If the Village exceeds its annual allotted tonnage, SWANCC invoices the Village for excess tonnage, known as the "true-up."

Over the last five years, according to the Village, the decline in the Refuse Fund reserve is due to both an increase in SWANCC’s costs and the Village exceeding the annual tonnage. This has resulted in the Village having to pay a "true-up" each year.

LANDSCAPE WASTE PICKUP BEGINS APRIL 1

The Village of Buffalo Grove announced landscape pickup is set to begin Thursday. Here are a few guidelines:

• It should be put out in 32-gallon special yard waste paper bags or 32-gallon rigid, unlined waste containers marked with a 12-inch "X" on it.
• It includes: grass clippings, leaves, vegetative plants, brush and small trees
• It does not include: indoor plants, flower arrangements, trees larger than 3.5 inches in diameter, dirt, stones, pine cones and sod

For more info visit the Village's Refuse and Recycling webpage.

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