Garbage Collection Analysis

Garbage Collection Analysis 

This page details the analysis conducted in advance of the Village Board approving a franchise agreement with Lakeshore Recycling Systems (LRS). The new program with LRS began Wednesday, November 1. Learn more about the transition to LRS, and what the expect below. 

Phase I Overview

As part of the Village’s three-year Strategic Work Plan, the Village Board requested that staff analyze the current in-house residential and commercial garbage collection program. In Phase I of the analysis, presented to the Village Board in November 2016, staff completed a comprehensive program study, including a review of all current operational costs, service levels, long-term capital costs and program efficiencies. Staff used program cost evaluation methods, established by the International City/County Management Association, to determine that the total annual cost of the garbage collection services program in Fiscal Year 2016 was $1,793,651, inclusive of a $433,369 subsidy from the General Fund. View the full Garbage Collection Analysis Document.

The cost for this critical service is significant, but is due in large part to the way this service has been provided with high level of responsiveness. The costs of equipment, personnel and insurance, fall fully on the Village in the collection of garbage. However, from the analysis, staff concluded and the Village Board agreed that opportunities are available to the Village, as seen in other local communities, that would reduce costs while maintaining, or even improving, service levels. These opportunities include the use of a private garbage hauler to provide residential garbage collection services in lieu of Village staff.

After reviewing the analysis, the Village Board directed staff to further investigate these opportunities, while also engaging the community to better understand our residents’ expectations.

A summary of our current program is included in the infographic below the Phase II overview below. Still have questions? Visit the Garbage Analysis FAQ here.

Phase II Overview

Updated July 21, 2017
Phase II of the analysis is complete and involved exploring alternatives to the current program, including the possibility of contracting with a private garbage hauler. To help evaluate which services residents find most valuable, Village staff is conducted a comprehensive Garbage Collection Survey which closed Friday, March 31. Concurrently, Village staff conducted a request for proposal process (RFP) for garbage collection services. 

At the July 20 Committee of the Whole meeting, Village staff presented the results of the Garbage Collection Survey and request for proposal process to the Village Board. Based on the findings from Phase I of the Garbage Collection Analysis and the anticipated benefits of outsourcing illustrated in Phase II, staff recommended to the Village Board that the Village contract with Lakeshore Recycling Systems (LRS), our current recycling collection provider, for garbage collection services. 

The Village Board approved a contract with LRS at the August 24 Village Board meeting. View the August 24 Village Board PowerPoint presentation here 

Learn more about the transition here.