Residents of Morris have a new waste and recycling contract, thanks to an agreement approved this month by the Morris City Council.

The 7-year agreement with Allied Waste Transportation/Republic Services of Joliet, was approved Oct. 7. The new agreement includes a 3% annual increase for services.

Solid waste pricing, including trash, recycling and yard waste, will total $18.88 per cycle between now and August 2020.

Those prices will increase each year by 3%, reaching a cost per cycle of $22.53 by August 2025. The contract will expire Aug. 31, 2026.

“We went through a lot of back and forth and came to an agreement,” Mayor Richard Kopczick said. “This is a seven year agreement and [residents] will still have their unlimited yard waste beginning with your first regular pickup in April and ending in your last regular pickup in November. You’ll also have your every other week recyclable pickup as well as your pickup of refuse.”

Acceptable recyclable materials include aluminum food and beverage materials, ferrous cans, recyclable containers marked as No. 1, No. 2 and No. 5 including soap and detergent bottles, milk and water jugs, yogurt containers, margarine tubs, as well as paper, clear glass, magazines and soup/juice box-type containers.

Yard waste, Styrofoam, food,
liquids, and textiles are not acceptable for recycling, nor are plastic containers marked No. 3, No. 4, No. 6 or No. 7.

The contract includes five city-owned sites for container locations, including City Hall, various parks and the airport.

The contract was approved unanimously.