PALMER TWP., Pa. – Palmer Township is moving ahead with selecting new contracts for its waste management services.

At Monday night’s meeting, supervisors awarded a contract for the “acceptance and disposal” of solid waste to WM, previously known as Waste Management. The five-year pact has a $469,200 annual value with a $68 cost per ton. That represents a 32% increase over the next five years, according to Director of Public Services Philip Godbout.

The township received one other bid, from J.P. Mascaro & Sons, which had a $917,000 annual value with a $133 cost per ton.

In addition, the board awarded a contract to Mascaro for the acceptance and processing of recyclable materials. The deal, for five years, has an $193,534 annual value with an $87.97 cost per ton. This time, Mascaro had lower numbers than its lone competitor, WM. The new contract represents approximately 25% higher costs for recycling processing.

Godbout said the township is finalizing specifications to advertise and solicit bids for the hauling portion of the service, which covers transporting trash and recyclables collected throughout the township to the landfill and recycling facility that were awarded contracts Monday night.

Municipalities throughout the Lehigh Valley have seen substantial increases in such costs over the past few years, but Godbout said Palmer cannot determine the final numbers that residents will have to pay until bids for hauling are received and township supervisors have the opportunity to evaluate.

“Our goal is that any increase will be manageable and generally in line with cumulative inflation since 2021,” he said.

In looking at ways to potentially keep costs down, the township is considering one option to reduce recycling collection to biweekly service. However, Godbout said that decision will depend on whether such a change results in a meaningful cost reduction.

The township’s current contact with WM ends April 30. The current household rate of $320 per year provides for weekly trash and cart-based recycling, as well as additional services, including operation of the township recycling center and yard waste facility and leaf collection.

Supervisors are expected to award the contract for hauling in the second half of March.