Yorkville considers household hazardous waste pickup as part of new trash contract

The popularity of Yorkville’s electronic waste recycling program is prompting city officials to consider the expansion of waste collection service into yet another category.

Residents may be able to dispose of paint, oil, car batteries, pesticides, fertilizers, aerosol cans and other household hazardous waste with curbside service starting next year.

That depends on the price and conditions that waste haulers offer when they bid on the next trash collection contract, Yorkville City Administrator Bart Olson said.

Waste Management took over the current contract when the trash giant acquired Advance Disposal last year. The contract expires on April 30, 2022.

The collection program now includes a curbside pickup for recycling of electronics, including televisions, telephones, video game consoles, DVD players, computer equipment, cameras, shredders and other items. Residents simply call the waste hauler to schedule a pickup. There is no fee, except in the case of particularly large items, such as big screen televisions.

The city is looking to provide a similar collection service for hazardous waste, Olson said.

“Because the electronics program is so popular, we thought we’d try hazardous waste as well,” Olson said.

In a formal “request for proposal” document, the city is asking trash haulers bidding on the contract to incorporate the hazardous waste service into their total bid, without a separate fee for residents. However, the city is expecting that some of the haulers will nevertheless propose to do the service with a fee, Olson said.

The approved list for hazardous waste materials that may be accepted for curbside pickup is something that could be the subject of contract negotiations.

The city of Naperville’s hazardous waste collection program, for example, includes asbestos, mercury, fire extinguishers and propane tanks up to 20 pounds.

Meanwhile, city officials will be focused on cost when haulers submit their bids by the Nov. 1 deadline.

“The goal is to get a reduced rate,” Olson said.

In 2012 and again in 2017, the city’s competitive bidding process produced five-year contracts that were each better than the previous deal.

“We were able to get the same services at better prices each time,” Olson said.

Yorkville households receive a utility bill every other month. Under the current solid waste contract, the line item for trash collection is $36.42.

The service includes a 65- or 96-gallon tote for garbage and a 65-gallon receptacle for recyclable materials, issued by the waste hauler. Residents who prefer a 35-gallon tote for garbage get a 50-cent discount.

Yard waste is collected on a home’s normal weekly pickup day from the beginning of April through the end of November.