Five questions answered about Easton’s new trash and recycling hauler - lehighvalleylive.com
Five questions answered about Easton’s new trash and recycling hauler - lehighvalleylive.com
Easton has a new contractor starting in January 2024 for curbside trash and recycling pickup.
The city council on Sept. 27 approved a three-year contract with Whitetail Disposal Inc. The Perkiomenville, Pennsylvania-based company’s $2,422,394 contract was the low bid approved by the city, and it takes effect Jan. 1, 2024. The deal has an option to mutually agree on renewal for three successive one-year terms.
City Public Works Director David Hopkins provided an overview of changes to the council in November and spoke to lehighvalleylive.com to offer some additional information for this preview of what to expect. An information flier, available here and included below, is going out to residents in mid-December, he said.
What is the collection schedule?
Easton’s current hauler, Republic Services, collects trash and recycling five days a week, Monday through Friday. Whitetail is doing curbside collection Tuesday north of Route 22, Wednesday from Route 22 to the Lehigh River and Thursday on South Side.
For the first week of 2024, however, due to the New Year’s Day holiday on a Monday, the collection is scheduled to occur Wednesday north of Route 22, Thursday from Route 22 to the Lehigh River and Friday on South Side.
Going with collection three days a week allows Whitetail to continue to service its other customers, and avoids potential problems if collection is pushed to Saturday when landfills might have different hours and which can lead to trash not getting picked up.
Are collection fees increasing?
Mayor Sal Panto Jr. proposed a $5 increase in Easton’s refuse collection fee of $33 per month(plus $1 monthly bill fee) as part of the 2024 budget up for final council approval Dec. 13. The city’s 2024 garbage and recycling collection costs are increasing by $1.2 million, or 3.4%, over 2023, according to Panto; the rate hike will raise about $500,000 to help cover the increased cost. Easton offers a 20% discount on the fee to senior citizens.
Will I need a new, special receptacle?
Any bin will do, Hopkins said. The city is continuing to allow up to four 32-gallon containers or the equivalent volume of refuse per week, plus one bulk item such as a sofa or appliance.
Is recycling changing?
Whitetail like Republic Services will collect a single-stream of recycling, meaning clean No. 1 and 2 plastics, aluminum cans, glass beverage bottles can be mixed with paper and flattened cardboard/paperboard. Operationally, the only thing changing for residents for trash or recycling is the day of collection.
Where are the trash and recycling going?
The city council on Sept. 13 approved a three-year agreement with Waste Connections Inc. for trash disposal at the Bethlehem Landfill in Lower Saucon Township at a cost of $59.50 per ton, and a three-year agreement with WM (Waste Management) for the processing and marketing of the city’s recyclable materials at a cost of $145 per ton. Both of these contracts also begin on Jan. 1.
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Kurt Bresswein may be reached at kbresswein@lehighvalleylive.com.
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