Salisbury Township residents may see garbage pickup reduced from twice-weekly to once-weekly. The change is under consideration by the township administration and board of commissioners with the current township trash hauler contract expiring in less than three months. The township administration expects to advertise for Requests For Proposals.

The township's six-year contract with Waste Management, Inc. expires June 30. The contract was a three-year pact, with a one-year renewal for three years. Waste Management was paid $1.5 million annually for each year of the contract.

The cost to township residents for trash pickup is $340 annually during the six years of the contract.

Township officials discussed amending the Solid Waste and Recycling Ordinance in preparation of the RFPs.

Salisbury Township Manager Randy Soriano has reviewed the specifications of the contract.

Soriano said any changes concerning garbage pickup would need to be changed by amending the township solid waste ordinance.

The City of Allentown and the Borough of Fountain Hill are among the few nearby municipalities to still have twice-weekly trash collection, Soriano noted.

"I think it will be advantageous for us to go out to bid [for a trash hauler]," Commissioner Robert Martucci, Jr. said during the discussion in the workshop following the March 27 township meeting.

Township officials figure if pickup goes from twice-weekly to once-weekly, the annual contract should be less expensive.

"That savings is passed along to homeowners," reasoned township commissioner Vice President Debra Brinton.

South Whitehall Township went from twice-weekly to once-weekly pickup.

Salisbury Township Solicitor Atty. John W. Ashley, a South Whitehall resident, related the once-weekly pickup had little impact on his household.

South Whitehall provides each household with 96-gallon containers. The containers can be picked up automatically by a specially-equipped garbage truck.

"Can they do that without taking out a telephone line?" asked Brinton, noting hilly topography and narrow streets in much of Salisbury could make automatic container pickup problematic.

"That's why Allentown doesn't have automated. It's a case of congested streets," Soriano said.

"It wouldn't be a problem for the west side [of Salisbury], but it could be on the east side," Soriano said.

Each household would be provided with a free container. The cost of providing containers to township households could be $300,000.

"If we were to explore once-week pickup to save costs, does it have to be advocated?" Martucci asked.

"No, I'm not really advocating that," Soriano replied.

"Why don't we get the cost of it?" James A. Brown, board president, asked.

It was noted municipalities are obligated by law to accept the lowest responsible bid.

"I'm very happy with our trash service. They do a good job," Brinton said of Waste Management.

"I would still like to see several proposals," Martucci said.

The township will include several options in its RFPs, including once-weekly pickup and automated pickup.

"The only way we could exercise those options is if we go out to bid?" Brinton asked.

"Yes," Soriano answered.

Trash haulers serving Lehigh Valley municipalities, in addition to Waste Management, Inc., include Raritan Valley Disposal, and J.P. Mascaro & Sons, Inc.