Politics & Government

Village Will Stick with Waste Management

Although a competitor's price proposal came in slightly lower, Buffalo Grove officials say they will stick with their longtime waste hauler.

What is the value of loyalty and good service?

In Buffalo Grove, it’s worth at least 61 cents per month.

The Village Board voted 6-0 last week to retain Waste Management for trash and recycling pickup for another five years.

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Buffalo Grove has relied on Waste Management for at least 40 years, but when the village requested proposals this year from haulers, Republic Services’ pricing came in 61 cents below Waste Management’s monthly fee for pickup at a single-family home.

However, officials said that the village receives services from Waste Management that are hard to place a value on. In addition to regular garbage pickup, Waste Management provides service during  and recently teamed with the village in an effort to . 

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Furthermore, Trustee Steve Trilling said, a change in service providers also would require changes in garbage cans, automatic bank account withdrawals and pickup days and times.

“I don’t think the change is something the residents want to entertain at this time,” Trustee Andrew Stein said.

“I mean this as no disrespect to Republic and the work that they did and what they came up with … but in my opinion, Waste Management has been a true partner to our community for a very long time and they have provided us with excellent service,” Trustee Mike Terson said. “I’m not willing to risk what I know is excellent service that our community expects over 61 cents per month. That’s just not a risk I’m willing to take.”

Trilling, who said he’s heard high praise of Republic Services and that he typically casts his vote for the lowest qualified bidder, agreed. The rest of the board also supported village staff’s recommendation to negotiate its next contract with Waste Management.

“It’s the lowest and best, and best doesn’t mean the cheapest,” Trustee Les Ottenheimer said. If you go back to the old saying, ‘if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it’ … and to me, that’s the bottom line.”

A final contract with Waste Management is in the works, and is scheduled for board approval on April 16.


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