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Beginning in 2026, Illinois-based Lakeshore Recycling Systems will collect trash and recycling at Indianapolis homes.
The Board of Public Works on Wednesday unanimously approved a 10-year contract with Lakeshore Recycling Systems, which starts next January. It will service the 157,000 units currently covered by Waste Management and Republic Services. The company will also assist in the city’s planned 2028 transition to universal curbside recycling, which will cost the city $13 million in the first year.
Residents living in the 120,000 units served by the Department of Public Works and AFSCME Local 725 will not see a change.
Sam Beres, chief financial officer for the Department of Public Works, told the board that the city currently pays $11.25 per unit, per month for trash collection. The new contract would bring that fee down to about $7.88, which he said totals about $7 million in annual savings.
Lakeshore Recycling Systems set the cost for the city’s first year of universal curbside recycling at $3.87 per unit per month, or about $13 million total. That includes the cost of delivering recycling bins. At the end of the 10-year contract, the city will own the bins.
The contractor will also pick up Republic’s subscription recycling customers. Residents who directly pay Republic Services for curbside recycling are expected to see a decrease in cost. The current rate for the Republic subscription is $10 monthly. The new contract starts at $9.27 per month. Both are for optional biweekly recyclables pickup.
Pricing for trash and recycling services is on a graduated scale that increases throughout the 10-year contract term.
Aside from the optional subscription, homeowners are not typically billed directly for trash service. The city pays vendors and passes on the costs to consumers through property taxes.
Heavy trash collection will continue with a maximum of two items per month. Residents can purchase a second garbage bin for $65. Current owners of second bins through Republic or Waste Management can keep those.
Lakeshore Recycling Systems operates in eight states and provides hauling services in more than 125 communities. The company does not currently have an Indianapolis-based office, but representatives told the committee that the company plans to establish one.
Lakeshore also provides residential recycling collection for more than 600,000 residents in Chicago.
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This article is slightly more clear than the City-DPW email from earlier today, which was about as clear as mud.
So we that pay for curbside recycling now will still have to pay the new company? But we save $0.70 a month, and the inner city is free?
The city needs better writers to inform us in a clear and concise manner.
Hi Kevin,
As I understand it, you are correct aside from the free part. All recycling right now is subscription-based. It will continue to be subscription-based until at least 2028.
Thank you!
Thanks for clarifying Taylor!
Choosing out of state, such a democrat move. Oh, look they are from a blue state.
Lmao
Replacing two out-of-state contractors with another out-of-state contractor, but saving taxpayers millions of dollars while also working toward universal curbside recycling that will ultimately help the planet and save money for those who already recycle. Such a Democrat move.
greg ballard had a universal recycling program that was presented to the city council and they voted it down. such a democrat move…
Like Republicans are big on environmental initiatives such as recycling?
R E A C H I N G
Anything has to be better than Waste Management.
Will they expand the types of items residents can recycle? For example – more than the current #1 and #2 plastics, cardboard and glass?