Elmwood Park residents have been receiving instructions and other communications from the village’s new garbage collection vendor, ahead of the new company’s start on May 1.
Flood Brothers Disposal and Recycling Co. is setting up garbage cans and dumpsters in front of residential dwellings because it will soon be the town’s refuse collector, taking over from LRS.
“Flood made an unsolicited proposal to the village because the agreement with LRS was expiring,” Village Manager Paul Volpe told Pioneer Press.
He said the five-year contract with Rosemont-based LRS expires April 30, which is also the end of the village’s fiscal year.
“We had the authority under the contract to re-up for another five years but we would have to, of course, negotiate the rate so LRS gave us new rates,” Volpe said.
He said Groot Industries, Elmwood Park’s longtime waste collector before LRS, and Republic Services had contacted the village about contract plans but neither company submitted a proposal.
According to Volpe, the contract with LRS started with a monthly collection rate to the village of $129,700 in 2019 and increased to $132,294 in 2020. The rate increased annually until it was at $140,392 in 2023.
But, in the end, Volpe said Flood’s proposal ended up being $340,000 less than LRS over a seven-year period. Village trustees approved the waste collection agreement with Oakbrook Terrace-based Flood Brothers at the March 4 Village Board meeting.
Village President Angelo “Skip” Saviano said during the meeting that garbage rates have not increased in the 11 years of his administration, and the new contract allows Elmwood Park to maintain rates for another few years.
“We had a very good relationship with (LRS). They served us very well. Flood, we expect to be the same. They’re still a smaller, family-owned company,” Volpe said.
Collection fees per month remain $21 for a single-family 65-gallon wheeled refuse cart, $33.50 for a large-family 95-gallon cart, $36 for a two-flat 95-gallon cart, $50 for two three-flat 95-gallon carts, $68.50 for a four-flat cubic yard container and $75.50 for a one-and-a-half five-flat cubic yard container, according to village information on garbage collection rates.
Some service will stay as-is, but there will also be some changes, officials explained.
“If you’re getting pick up in your alley, you’re going to continue to get pick-up in your alley. If you get curbside, you’ll continue to get curbside,” Volpe said.
The Monday-to-Thursday schedule will switch to Tuesday through Friday, with residents who have Monday pick up changing to Friday pick up in May.
“It was a more efficient routing for Flood,” Volpe said.
Officials from Flood Brothers told Elmwood Park residents in a letter last month to leave old garbage carts and containers out after the last April pick up so LRS is able to collect them. However, recycling carts will not be changed out at this time.
Jessi Virtusio is a freelancer.
