The City’s garbage and recycling pickup service provider, LRS (formerly referred to as Lakeshore Recycling Systems), will update their service charges as part of a 3-year contract extension with the waste hauler. The new service rates will go into effect Friday, Oct. 1, 2021.
The City's contract extension with LRS will allow you to continue to pay only for how much you use the service. This is achieved using trucks that scan garbage and/or recycling carts when they are emptied. This "pay-as-you-throw" system is among the first in the country to use RFID scanning technology – similar to the Illinois Tollway System’s IPASS – and gives you more control over your service costs than a flat monthly fee.
The rate adjustments are necessary to offset costs resulting from low residential cart set-out rates in Wheaton and an overall market drop-off for recyclables. Wheaton households, on average, have a monthly set-out rate of less than 55%, meaning most households set out their garbage and recycling at the curb about every other week. The City compared the new rates with service rates in neighboring communities and found that these rates will still allow Wheaton households to pay competitive rates compared to neighboring communities.
Based on the City’s satisfaction with LRS service to residents, the competitive price for service, and the community’s desire to use a pay-as-you-throw model without requiring stickers for each pickup, the City Council opted to approve a contract extension with LRS.
Please see the following updated service fees per pickup beginning Friday, Oct. 1:
Garbage Service Fee Per Pickup:
- 35-gallon cart: $3.05 (increase of $1.50)
- 65-gallon cart: $4.30 (increase of $1.20)
- 95-gallon cart: $5.10 (increase of $0.45)
Recycling Service Fee Per Pickup:
- 35-gallon cart: $2.00 (increase of $0.71)
- 65-gallon cart: $2.75 (increase of $1.46)
- 95-gallon cart: $3.25 (increase of $2.05)
The sticker cost will remain unchanged at $2.99 for yard waste/leaves/organics, bulk items, excess garbage that won’t fit in your garbage cart, e-waste, and bulk items.
Cart Exchange Grace Period
Continuing service with LRS will allow Wheaton customers to control their expenses by only being charged when you put out your cart. You may also elect to control your costs by choosing a different cart size, if you find that a different cart size would better suit your household’s needs. If you would like to exchange your garbage or recycling cart for a different size (35-, 65- or 95-gallon), LRS will allow you to do so at no additional charge now through Sunday, Oct. 31. Please contact LRS at 773-685-8811 to arrange a cart exchange. After Oct. 31, LRS will charge a delivery fee for exchanging carts.
For more information about garbage and recycling services please see this section of the City’s website.