Agenda Item:
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Discussion of the Village's Solid Waste, Recycling & Organics Franchise Agreement with Lakeshore Recycling Systems (LRS)
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Staff Contact: Monica Sarna, Public Works Director, Jen Maddux, Management Analyst
Purpose and Actions Requested: Staff requests Village Board discussion of the Village's Solid Waste, Recycling and Organics Franchise Agreement with Lakeshore Recycling Systems (LRS).
Budget Impact: Not Applicable
Strategic Priority Addressed: Economic Vitality, Community Resilience
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BACKGROUND AND ANALYSIS
Lakeshore Recycling Systems (LRS) has served as the Village's solid waste hauler since 2017, under two successive franchise agreements, providing garbage, recycling, and yard waste collection services along with some special programs, including the annual spring clean-up day. The current agreement was executed in November 2022 and expires December 31, 2026. The Village now has a defined window to negotiate a renewal or pursue a competitive bid process.
Staff analyzed comparable LRS franchise agreements in peer communities to understand the terms LRS has already agreed to elsewhere; met with staff in those communities to learn from their real-world experience administering those contracts, including what has and has not worked; and consulted the Solid Waste Agency of Northern Cook County (SWANCC) for a broader view of regional trends, pricing, and best practices. Currently, staff is evaluating whether to pursue a renewal or competitive bid process, but has continued to work closely with LRS.
Staff have met with LRS on multiple occasions to convey a clear set of preliminary priorities and asked LRS to respond with the specific commitments it was prepared to put into contract language for any potential renewal. LRS reaffirmed the value it places on its partnership with the Village and indicated they are eager to continue serving the Village into the future. As such, they delivered a written framework in response, summarized...
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