Evanston staff propose year-round yard/food-waste opt-out, higher cart fees and new bulk-pickup charge to address solid-waste deficit

City solid-waste staff told the council on Nov. 3 that the solid-waste enterprise fund has operated with a structural deficit since the fund—s 2011 inception and has required subsidies averaging about $1 million a year. Brian Zimmerman, the city—s solid-waste coordinator, presented a package of service and fee changes aimed at closing that deficit and promoting diversion of organics.

Key proposals and rationale Brian Zimmerman said the city planned to switch food-and-yard-waste collection from a seasonal add-on to a year-round opt-out program to increase organic diversion. To do that, staff proposed moving to a monthly fee structure and recommended a $7 per month charge for the service. He also proposed that retail vendors issue yard-waste…