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Bloomington, Ill. City Council Considers Privatizing Garbage Collection
The city may eliminate its own collection services as a cost-saving measure.
1 Min Read
The Bloomington, Ill. City Council will vote in the coming weeks on potentially privatizing solid waste collection. The city, facing a budget deficit of just under $3 million, is hoping the shift will help it cut costs.
City Alderman Diana Hauman is in favor of privatization, explaining that garbage collection is not a core government service in her view. Interim City Manager Steve Rasmussen has proposed more of a compromise that would reduce the government’s offerings without eliminating them entirely.
The County Board recently approved a new 20-year solid waste plan designed to decrease solid waste cost and increase the life spans of nearby landfills.
WJBC has more information:
Options include reducing bulk waste collection to just twice a year instead of every two weeks. Instead, there would be extended hours at a bulk waste drop-off center.
The city would reduce brush collection to just once a month or once every quarter. The council is considering higher solid waste fees, and boosting enforcement and fines for dumping.
The city might also create morning and evening shifts for garbage pick-up, instead of all employees working a single shift. Staffers say half the vehicles would be required to run at the same time, reducing maintenance costs.
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