Evanston committee backs recommendation to raise solid-waste fees, advance food-and-yard-waste program

The Finance and Budget Committee on Thursday recommended that City Council adopt a set of changes to solid-waste fees designed to shore up the enterprise fund and expand food- and yard-waste collection.

The committee voted to forward the proposal by a 6-1 roll call (Council member Kelly opposed). The motion recommends adopting a $7-per-month charge for year‑round food-and-yard-waste cart service, raising sticker fees to $2.50, instituting a $1-per-unit monthly charge for special bulk/unscheduled pickup services, offering 35‑ and 95‑gallon compost-cart options, and modestly increasing some cart rates (including moving the 65‑gallon garbage cart from $11.93 to $14). The committee also asked staff to pursue implementation details and resident outreach before the change is introduced to the full council.

Why it matters: Public Works staff say the solid-waste enterprise fund operates at a structural deficit and receives a property-tax subsidy; the fee changes are intended to reduce reliance on that subsidy and to help the fund reach self‑sufficiency over time while increasing diversion of organic waste from landfill.

Brian Zimmerman, Solid Waste Coordinator in the Public Works Department, told the committee the fund "is a fund that is currently in a structural deficit" and described several drivers: new contract haul rates that take effect Nov. 1, pending labor-contract increases, multi-year delays on vehicle purchases, and unfilled staff positions.…