Recycle Toters Support Fails

The Village of Island Lake was presented with a garbage/recycle contract extension to include new recycle toters for all residents with an increase in their bill of $1.25 per bill cycle, per household. The toters were explored because they are upright and hold more recyclables; SWALCO and others feel residents would recycle more if they had larger recycle containers.

Trustee Saville asked that the board vote on the contract extension separate from the inclusion of toters. Trustee Saville felt that the toters, having the $1.25 fee was a way of making recycling mandatory to residents in the way of the fee. Trustee Ponio said he thought the $1.25 was a backdoor tax and felt that since the village makes money on recycling, the cost for toters should not be passed on to residents. The village does make money on recycling, in fact, the village has made approximately $17,000 since becoming a part of SWALCO according to the SWALCO representative. VOIL made $6,000 last year in recycles. Trustee O'Malley asked if residents could purchase their own toters at retail and Waste Management would take the recycles and the answer was yes.

The vote was 4 Nays, 2 Ayes, (Nays: Ponio, Rabattini, O'Malley, Saville; Ayes: Mascillino, Verciglio) resulting in a fail to pass. The board will need to vote on the contract without the toters.

If you are interested in purchasing a larger recycling container, consider purchasing one at retail. Check your local hardware and outdoor retail centers. You may also find some through the links below. You may also try calling Waste Management and asking if you may purchase on of their bins. I do not know if they will sell them to the public, but it is worth a try. If you have more recycles, call Waste Management or SWALCO (number on your bill) and ask them how you may put out more recycles for them to collect.

http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?storeId=10051&productId=100669787&langId=-1&catalogId=10053&ci_sku=100669787&ci_src=14110944&cm_mmc=shopping-_-googlebase-_-D23X-_-100669787

http://www.bettymills.com/shop/product/view/Rubbermaid%20Commercial/RCP3540-07GRE.html

http://recy-cal.stores.yahoo.net/unreccon.html

http://www.walmart.com/browse/Kitchen-Dining/Kitchen-Storage-Organization/Trash-Cans-Recycle-Bins/_/N-911kZaq90Zaqce/Ne-2p4i?ic=48_0&ref=125874.421256&tab_value=374732_All&catNavId=1032619&fromPageCatId=1010739&catNavId=1032619