A view of the Wheatland Transfer Station.
The Wheatland Town Board has voted to contract with a new company to haul garbage and recycling away from the town transfer station in New Munster.
The switch to Veolia could save the town about $7,800 over the bid submitted by the town’s current contractor Waste Management in the first year of a two-year contract.
Estimates developed by town Clerk Sheila Siegler had Waste Management’s cost at $74,562.28 a year for two years while Veolia’s cost was $66,784.69 in the first year and $68,788.23 based on a 3 percent increase in the Consumer Price Index. The maximum increase in the second year would be 5 percent. If the CPI was hnegative, the town would have no increase for the second year.
Those bids included a move away from one 20-yard container for co-mingled recyclables to four 8-yard containers, which both companies said were less expensive for them to service.
Two other companies, Green Valley Disposal and John’s Disposal, did not submit comparable bids. Green Valley specified a three year contract and John’s did not include a bid using the smaller containers for co-mingled recyclables.
One change for residents will be that co-mingled recyclables will not be able to be bagged when thrown into the containers, said Jason Sturino, Veolia representative. Siegler said the town will need to educate residents about this and any other change in procedure.
Several board members alluded to the fact Waste Management had served the town well for most of the last 25 years.
“I know Waste Management has worked out well,” said town Chairman Bill Glembocki, “but the numbers were not there. In these tough times we have to try something different.”
Said Siegler to Sturino: “You have a high standard to live up to.”
If the Veolia contract passes a review by the town’s attorney, the transfer is scheduled to take effect May 3.
