Council approves five‑year recycling processing agreement with Lakeshore Recycling Systems

The Lake Forest City Council approved a five‑year recycling material processing agreement with Lakeshore Recycling Systems and waived the competitive bid process on June 16, council members said, after staff explained the change follows a termination of the city’s prior processor and promises operational savings.

Assistant Public Works Director Jim Locafier told the council that Resource Management, the city’s longtime material recovery facility (MRF) partner since 2008, announced in late 2024 it would pivot away from single‑stream recycling and terminate the city’s contract. Staff negotiated directly with two large Lake County MRF operators — Lakeshore Recycling Systems (LRS) and Groot Industries — and recommended LRS because its processing fee and direct‑haul arrangement reduced overall costs.

Locafier explained the city averages roughly 2,500 tons of recyclables per year. Under the LRS proposal, the MRF processing fee was about $84 per ton versus $90 per ton from the other bidder; after expected market values for materials, Locafier said the net fee would be about $34 per ton. More importantly, the new contract eliminates a local transfer step and recurring trucking charges because crews will direct‑haul to LRS’s Northbrook facility, reducing an operating inefficiency. Locafier presented an annual budget target of $130,000 for recycling processing under the new arrangement and estimated that the city’s actual costs could be roughly $100,000 less a year compared with prior years when trucking and transfer fees were higher.

A public commenter asked whether curbside recycling schedules or accepted materials would change; Locafier said neither service schedule nor accepted materials will change for residents. The council approved the five‑year, $650,000 agreement by roll call (7‑0). Councilmembers and the city manager praised Public Works staff for finding the operational savings.