After years of no garbage fee in Dunmore, the borough council is bringing it back.

DUNMORE, Pa. — “Where do I take the money from to cover all of this?” That’s the question echoing in Barbara Trapani’s head as she figures out what to do about a new garbage fee. “We’re being burdened with something all at once, with something that should have been done over years.”

The borough of Dunmore is bringing back the Refuse Fee. They say since 2014, borough council voted to waive the fee.

This changed at a meeting in December when no motion was received to waive the fee for 2026.

As a landlord, since it’s $150 per unit, it’s something Trapani needs to budget for, and she is worried she may need to give up her home.

“That scares me, yes. Because I was saying it’s my children that are my tenants. I don’t charge them like other people would. Like I’m trying to help them out too,” she said.

The borough says the refuse fee will go toward labor costs, fuel, and maintenance.

The borough manager told Newswatch 16 they’ve been operating at a deficit of around $1 million for the last four to five years.

This caused the fee to come back in Dunmore.

“I’m not really happy about it, but they gotta do what they gotta do. You know, it’s only once a year, so you know, it’s not going to kill you $150. It might hurt some of the lower-income families. I’m on Social Security, and I’m on a pension, so I’m in good shape, but some other people, that might hurt them. But they’ll get through it,” said John Lampman, Dunmore.

“It’s going to be a little bit of a burden, but we can manage. But I’m worried about the retired folks, and that’s the people it’s going to hurt. I mean, yes, it’s not fair to everybody; it adds a burden. You know, standing here now, all the elderly are going to be like, ‘well, food and a garbage fee, or my prescriptions to live,” said Brian Williams, Dunmore.

For Trapani, she’s getting ready to deal with her new budget and waiting to see how this will all work out next year.

“End of the year, I add up to see where I’m going to need to put more money, and that’s what I do. This one may have to be eliminated because, well, it’s not that important, and that’s what I do. So far, we’re going to see how it works out.”