Community Corner
Letter to the Editor: Trash Collection
Township Manager Joe Golden responds to residents concerns regarding trash collection.
Effective May 1, trash, recycling, and bulk waste collection is on Fridays; yard waste collection is on Mondays.
Switching to once a week trash collection was done for two primary purposes: reduce the trash fee and to encourage recycling.
The trash fee was reduced from $345 per year to $310 per effective this year, and the fee is expected to remain at that rate for four years. This is suprising considering trash collection is labor and vehicle/gas consumption intensive.
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Last year, the Township switched to single stream recycling and expanded the types of materials which can be recycled.
I refer you to the township website and the brochure delivered to each resident for a list of materials to recycle. The list expands from time to time.
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For example, waxed paper milk and juice cartons may now be recycled; a year ago they were not.
During the past year, residents recycled approximately 40% more materials than the previous year. This resulted in an cost savings to the residents and an environmental benefit to the community.
For example, it costs $68 per ton to dispose of trash at the incinerator; the Township receives revenue (the amount varies according to market conditions) for every ton of recyclable materials it delivers to the recycling processing facility.
All residents were given a large recycling container to facilitate recyling collection.
The goal is to increase the amount of recyclable materials collected and reduce the amount of trash collected.
It is expected that the percentage of recyclable materials collected to trash collected will be 50/50. Twently years ago, that ratio was 85% trash/15% recyclables. This was accomplised through the efforts of Township residents, so having twice a week trash collection and once a week recycling collection seemed counter productive in reaching the goal of increasing recycling and reducing trash.
Having trash trucks traveling throughout the Township once a week rather than twice a week will reduce vehicle emissions and wear and tear on streets.
I am conerned that some residents received a brochure intended for Northampton Township residents and would like to know where those were delivered (street name is sufficient).
As submitted by Township Manager Joe Golden.
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