St. Charles aldermen voice concerns about proposed West Chicago waste transfer station

ST. CHARLES – St. Charles aldermen want to make sure a waste transfer station being proposed in neighboring West Chicago won't create traffic, litter or odor problems.

At Monday's St. Charles City Council meeting, aldermen unanimously approved a resolution challenging Lakeshore Recycling to show that the location and operation of a waste transfer station at 1655 Powis Road, West Chicago, will not adversely impact the health and safety of St. Charles residents.

"The intent here is not to, in any way, shape or form, disparage or say West Chicago should not put a transfer station on property in their corporate limits," St. Charles Mayor Ray Rogina said. "That's their right and I don't think we're saying that at all. What we're saying is that we want to protect our residents with respect to environmental concerns, with respect to truck traffic, etc."

According to a memo from St. Charles City Administrator Mark Koenen, the transfer facility proposes to accept, process and haul 2,525 tons per day of a combination of municipal solid waste, hybrid excavation waste, recyclables and construction and demolition debris generated by commercial and industrial sources.

"The transfer facility may generate a substantial number of vehicular garbage truck traffic, resulting in more stray litter, odor, safety concerns and increased wear and tear on the surrounding road system, including but not limited to adjacent rights of way controlled by the city of St. Charles that lead to and from the transfer facility and is expected to impact the health, safety and welfare of the surrounding communities, including but not limited to the citizens of the city of St. Charles," Koenen said in the memo.

Rogina said he has talked to West Chicago Mayor Ruben Pineda about the proposed waste transfer station, who assured him the waste transfer station would not create more truck traffic through St. Charles.

"I said, 'That's great Ruben, that's fine.' I hold you at your word on that," Rogina said.

West Chicago has not yet scheduled a public hearing on the project. Koenen said he spoke to West Chicago City Administrator Michael Guttman about the proposal and that he knows truck traffic is a major concern.

"He also understands that we may have other issues once we've seen an application," Koenen said.

5th Ward Alderman Maureen Lewis said she thought the resolution was a good idea.

"The resolution will get us a seat at the table," she said.