Firms Fight For Elmhurst Garbage Contract, With Dueling Letters

ELMHURST, IL – A Fortune 500 company is vying with a regional firm for Elmhurst's next garbage contract, with a committee splitting over them last week.

Phoenix-based Republic Services, which serves towns nationwide, wrote a letter for Monday's City Council meeting. It touted its 17 years of service to Elmhurst.

"We are deeply embedded in the community and uniquely positioned to continue delivering exceptional service to your residents at competitive rates," Republic's Tish Powell said.

Republic and Rosemont-based LRS bid about $20.5 million for the five-year contract. LRS is $45,000 more costly.

Powell, who noted the lower cost, also said Republic was the only company that answered the city's stated interest in a greater price difference between the sizes of rollout containers. This is intended to reduce waste.

In a letter, Bill Kenney of LRS called the city's intention on container prices "noble." But he said his company can confidently state that few residents will downsize from a 65- or 95-gallon container to a 35-gallon one, even with a favorable price.

"LRS' focus was not to disregard the City's interest in steering residents to use a small 35-gallon cart, but to focus more on providing value to the nearly 100% of homes which use a 65-gallon or 95-gallon cart – which our proposed rates accomplish," Kenney said.

LRS said it respects Republic, calling it a strong competitor that drives other companies to be better.

"However, the sustainability bona fides that the City is basing its analysis on seem to be geared towards efforts they have made on a national scale but not a local one," Kenney said.

LRS, he said, has built several state-of-the-art recycling facilities in the area and accompanied that effort with a local marketing team to engage residents.

Last week, Republic and LRS each got two aldermen's support on the public works committee.

The City Council meets at 7:30 p.m. Monday at City Hall. It is holding a closed session starting at 6:30 p.m.