July 10, 2025
Government

Prairieland Disposal Inc. to be McHenry's new trash service starting Aug. 1

McHENRY – The city of McHenry is getting a new waste-hauling and recycling service this summer.

With the current refuse and recycling contract with Waste Management of Illinois Inc. for residential waste-hauling service expiring July 31, the City Council recently awarded a five-year contract to Prairieland Disposal Inc.

The new contract will take effect Aug. 1.

At the latest City Council meeting, the council voted to approve a five-year contract, with the option of an additional five-year extension, to the waste-hauler and recycling service out of Lake Barrington. Prairieland’s services include weekly bulk item pickup, curbside leaf collection, Christmas tree pickup and free curbside e-waste collection twice a year on residents’ regular pickup days, among others.

Although Waste Management has been McHenry’s provider for the past five years, the council wanted to consider other options that might be cheaper for residents and still provide quality service. After not coming to an agreement with Waste Management, the City Council directed staff in November to issue a Request for Proposals for residential refuse, yard waste and recycling at the current types and level of service.

“I have no problems with Waste Management, personally,” said Alderman Geri Condon, who made the motion to accept Prairieland Disposal’s bid. “But their cost, what we paid in the past contract, that was going up. So what you’re getting now you would have to pay more for anyway.”

Condon said that although it is risky to accept a bid outside of McHenry, the council examined the bids carefully, looking for a company that offers good service at a lower cost.

“We try to stay within McHenry; I think that’s important,” Condon said. “But I also think the community has spoken very loud. … At least half the responses I got said go with what is cheap, but you feel is responsible.”

The motion to accept a five-year deal with Prairieland Disposal was approved by a 5-2 vote Feb. 20. Voting “no” were Aldermen Richard Wimmer and Robert Peterson.

“I’ve always had good luck with Waste Management,” Peterson said.

Disagreeing with the proposal, several McHenry residents spoke out against not keeping Waste Management for another five years.

“Waste Management has proven to do a good job,” McHenry resident Michael Haffner said. “If it’s not broken, we shouldn’t fix it.”

Haffner said the city should keep Waste Management because of how often the company preaches safety and because it is a local business.

“Waste Management has a business in town that of the 45 employees that are there, 25 live within the McHenry city limits,” Haffner said. “That, to me, is just a travesty they wouldn’t promote this local business.”