Elmhurst May Avoid Hinsdale's Situation With Trash Deal

ELMHURST, IL – A few Elmhurst aldermen are seeking to avoid the type of situation that Hinsdale found itself in last year – a big increase in garbage rates without enough time to go out for competitive bids.

Last fall, Hinsdale officials expressed reservations about the "steep" rate increases in a proposed garbage contract with Phoenix-based Republic Services, the same company that Elmhurst uses.

At the time, Village President Tom Cauley said he would like to go out to bid for the contract in three years. But he said Hinsdale lacked the time last year.

In Elmhurst, three aldermen said in a memo this week that they wanted the city to review the garbage contract at least 14 months ahead of the expiration. This would let the City Council competitively bid for the contracted service, they said.

Since 1991, the city has competitively bid out the contract three times, according to the memo. The city has contracted with Republic all that time.

The alderman, Michael Bram, Jacob Hill and James Nudera, said Republic's options for Elmhurst residents have not varied much over the years.

"(T)he goal of going out for a competitive bid would not only allow the city to ensure Elmhurst residents are getting the best price for this service, but to also explore the various refuse and recycling options," the aldermen said.

The current contract expires in 2026.

The trio asked that a City Council committee review the various options for garbage service as well as go out to bid for the best price. On Monday, the council is set to vote on that request.

In 2023, Bram, the Elmhurst alderman, brought up his concern that the city hadn't gone out to bid for the garbage contract for eight years. The city manager explained the reasoning.

Three years ago, Darien city staffers were preparing to renew the contract with the city's longtime waste hauler, Waste Management. But aldermen wanted to go out to bid.

In the end, the Darien City Council approved a contract with a new company, LRS, that many believed to be superior to the city's previous arrangement.