Deerfield to put out request for proposal for waste disposal

The Village of Deerfield wants to consolidate all its business' waste collection to one company. -File photo

Updated: December 21, 2012 11:44AM

DEERFIELD — To consolidate waste services for Deerfield businesses, and to save its roads from damage from heavy trucks, the village of Deerfield said it is undergoing a request for proposal with waste pick-up companies.

Assistant to the village manager Jennifer Maltas said the village is currently placing together a committee of local businesses to help out in that search.

“It’s (business waste contract) been done in some other communities in our area, like Highland Park and Highwood,” Maltas said. “Those communities are showing a reduction in the cost of waste pick up for majority of businesses, and an increased recycling rate, by putting together a contract.”

Maltas also said, because of the competitiveness with bids, it tends to drive down prices.

“(Trucks) will be coming through Deerfield and will know their route, instead of having so many trucks at different times, so that drives down cost for haulers as well,” Maltaas said.

According to a statement released Dec. 17 by the village of Deerfield and the Solid Waste Agency of Lake County, “both Highland Park and Highwood negotiated “free” recycling services as part of the hauling contracts by bundling this service with the refuse costs. Even with the additional recycling service bundled into the disposal costs approximately 82% of Highland Park’s businesses and 100% of Highwood’s businesses saved money.”

Not all are happy about the proposed commercial waste franchise, however. Bob Pfister, of the National Solid Waste Management Association said a waste-hauling contract for the village would result in lost jobs within the waste hauling industry.

“We think the open market and free enterprise is the way it should be,” Pfister said. “One of the aspects that’s used in the defense of commercial franchise is you pull trucks off the street,” Pfister said. “It sounds good to eliminate a truck and no wear and tear on the street, but you have a guy at home without a job,” Pfister said.

A commercial franchise, Pfister added, is taking the choice of a business “out of the owner’s hands.”

“With the commercial franchise, you’re required to use them,” Pfister said. “Some businesses want specialized service and collections at a certain time.”

SWALCO executive director Walter Willis responded to some of NWSMA’s comments from an earlier press release.

“The National Solid Waste Management Association opposes commercial franchising, but its argument that it leads to higher cost for businesses does not square with the results we have seen in Highland Park and Highwood,” Willis said.

“In addition, NSWMA has issued a press release stating that quasi-governmental agencies like SWALCO have their fees built into the pricing for commercial businesses,” Willis added. “This is totally untrue. SWALCO does not receive any money from the commercial franchises and the money that is paid to the municipalities as part of the franchise fee is kept by the municipalities and not SWALCO.”

Maltas said requests for proposals don’t happen overnight, and says it could take several months to award a contract.

“After the (RFP) committee is comfortable with the proposals, we’ll move forward with scheduling a community meeting, with a 30 day notice,” Maltas said. “We will not have our first meeting until sometime in January.”

“Anyone who provides (waste pick-up) services can bid on it,” Maltas said. “(Contracts) ultimately drive down prices, and that’s what we’ve been looking at.”

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