After Niles residents trash talked the village’s move to have the garbage contractor send residents individual bills for garbage pickup, the Village Board approved a new agreement with the contractor allowing discounts for seniors and people who use 35-gallon garbage cans.
The amendment to the contract with Groot, the garbage contractor, also provides for two- and three-flat buildings to receive one garbage bill rather than two or three separate bills.
According to the application for a senior discount, residents 62 and older who live in single-family homes or townhomes will be eligible for 10% off their garbage bills.
Residents may fill out senior discount applications and send completed forms and proof of age to Village Hall at 1000 Civic Center Drive, according to village information.
After an application for a discount is approved, it may take three to six months for the discount to appear on a bill, per village information.
The village moved to separate the garbage bill from the rest of the property tax bill in its most recent budget, meaning that residents began making direct payments to Groot in May 2023. The quarterly charge is just under $53.
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Residents’ social media venting prompted Mayor George Alpogianis to address “the fiasco with the garbage bill” and tell residents at the May village board meeting that the village would explore options for discounts and other ways of making billing more proportionate to the amount of garbage residents need taken away.