Morton Grove will offer residents a compost service that costs about 14% to 20% less than the rates charged by the current provider, according to a contract approved recently..
Starting Jan. 2, WasteNot of Chicago will charge users $25 a week or $18 every two weeks for compost collection of food scraps, Village Administrator Ralph Czerwinski said. Collective Resources of Evanston currently charges $29 for weekly pickup and $22.50 for biweekly pickup, he added.
Morton Grove issued a request for proposals after discovering that its two-year contract with Collective Resources had expired last January, he said.
“We did not interrupt service for residents,” Czerwinski said. “When it came to our attention, we went back out to solicit proposals.”
The village reached out to seven potential contractors, but WasteNot and Collective Resources were the only two to respond, he said.
Public Works Director Mike Lukich recommended WasteNot based on general costs and discounts, including providing free or discounted service at village-sponsored public events.
The Village Board approved a three-year contract that is renewable, at the village’s discretion, for up to five years.
“This program continues our community efforts in environmental stewardship and sustainability while providing one more way residents and businesses can efficiently match their needs while minimizing greenhouse gas emissions.” Village President Dan DiMaria said.
Currently, 57 Morton Grove homes use the year-round compost program, which is offered at no cost to the village, Czerwinski said. Residents pay any fees.
In addition to the year-round program, Groot Industries, the village’s waste hauler, offers compost collection of a combination of landscaping and food scraps between March 15 and Dec. 15, Czerwinski said. Currently, 12 homes use Groot’s 95-gallon bin and 28 use the 65-gallon bin, he said.
Currently, the Groot service costs about $149 annually for the 65-gallon bin and $170 for the 95-gallon bin, Czerwinski said. Those costs will increase to $152 and $173, respectively, next year.
The Groot compost program is not offered between Dec. 15 and March 15 because no landscaping needs to be collected during that time, Czerwinski said.
Morton Grove chose to offer both programs to give residents the opportunity to receive service during winter months or on a smaller scale if desired, he said.
“Just to give residents the opportunity if they do not have a need for a large landscape bin,” Czerwinski said. “They might have a service cutting the lawn or a small lot that does not require a bin of that nature. Or they might want to focus on food scraps directly.”
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Village officials were pleased that WasteNot utilizes electric vehicles in its compost collection service, he said.
“Electric vehicles was not part of the RFP but it’s certainly an interesting component,” Czerwinski said. “It’s another action they’re taking for sustainability.”
WasteNot accepts a wide variety of compostables, including all food waste, all paper products, certified compostable products, and more, according to the village website. The company provides compost receptacles to residents, the site said.
Morton Grove chose to offer compost service because it fits with the village’s sustainability plans and advances environmental and natural resource causes, Czerwinski said.
Food waste accounts for up to 20% of the 19 million tons of waste sent to landfills in Illinois each year, he said. It represents the largest single waste stream found in landfills.