PALMER TWP., Pa. – Palmer Township residents should expect to see a more expensive trash bill in a few months.
During Tuesday’s board of supervisors meeting, Philip Godbout, director of public services, provided an update on the township’s future trash contract.
Palmer Township has already warned residents to expect significant increases when their current contract with WM, known previously as Waste Management, ends April 30. The company has declined to offer an extension.
The township is seeking bids on two separate contracts. The first, involving trash and recycling, is scheduled for award at the board of supervisors Feb. 2 meeting, Godbout said Tuesday night. The second, for hauling, will be awarded March 16. He indicated supervisors, at those meetings, will decide what costs are then passed on to property owners.
The township instituted a study which indicated residents should budget for a 30% to 40% price increase with any new deal. Palmer officials have also predicted tipping fees will increase 40% and hauling fees will increase 100%.
Last year, supervisors chose to solicit bids to acquire a new single-hauler, opting against allowing residents to select their haulers and potentially save money. Township officials warned the latter option would produce a trash truck increase, thus accelerating road deterioration. They added that a resident requirement to have private trash hauling would prove an enforcement challenge.
Currently, the township has trash and weekly recycling for about 7,400 households. This produces 598 tons of trash per month, and 182 tons of recycling each month.