The Solid Waste Management Ordinance has been updated in Salisbury Township in order to put township trash hauling and recycling out to bid.

The township's contract with Waste Management, Inc. concluded several months ago, but the trash hauler agreed to extend the pact until a new ordinance could be prepared and approved.

Township officials expect to issue Requests For Proposals this month. Bids are expected to be awarded by year's end.

The township's six-year contract with Waste Management, Inc. expired at the end of June. It 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.

Township officials have discussed the waste-hauler contract at several township meetings, going back to March when changing trash pickup from twice-weekly to once-weekly was proposed.

After several months of review and rewriting by Salisbury Township Manager Randy Soriano and Salisbury Township Solicitor Atty. John W. Ashley, the ordinance was put forth for a vote by Commissioner Robert Martucci, Jr., seconded by Commissioner James Seagreaves and approved 4-0, with one commissioner absent, at the Aug. 28 township meeting.

"We have cleaned up the definitions," Soriano explained before the vote.

The 29-page ordinance is available on the township website under the agenda link for the Aug. 28 meeting.

Soriano explained Part 1 of the ordinance has to do with "tightening up of language appropriate to today's specifications."

Soriano also said additional definitions were added for standards, for example, for large containers and hoisting equipment.

"That doesn't mean we will do it, but it will show the difference between manual and automated," Soriano said.

Township officials are considering the use of automated container pickup in areas of the township where possible, most likely on the west side.

Manual container pickup is expected to continue on the east side where there are more streets that are narrow, more streets with slopes and more dead-end streets.

In Part 1, container sizes are detailed, with respect to manual and automated pickup:

"A receptacle with a capacity of greater than 20 gallons but less than or equal to 35 gallons durable, watertight, metal or plastic cans or drums or securely tied plastic bags. The size of each such container shall not exceed a 30-gallon capacity and when filled shall weigh no more than 50 pounds.

"However, larger containers designed for use with special hoisting equipment may be used if the collector serving the residential dwelling uses collection vehicles with such special hoisting equipment.

"If the township decides to utilize an automated collection with special equipped trucks, the size of the container shall be determined by the township."

Part 2 pertains to recycling.

"We will use that section to prepare bids for recycling services," Soriano said of Part 2.

"There are still things they [trash haulers] can't process," Soriano said.

For instance, TVs and computers are no longer to be put in landfills.

Part 3 has to do with trash hauling charges, Soriano noted.

With approximately 5,000 residential units and a population of about 13,000, the annual fee for twice-weekly garbage pickup has been $340.

Soriano said Salisbury Township Assistant Manager-Director of Finance Cathy Bonaskiewich brought up the matter of customer billing.

"Our software is unable to subtract the discount," Soriano said.

For example, if the annual township trash bill is paid within 15 days, there is a 10 percent discount so a $340 annual fee would be $306 with the discount.

Of the new billing calculation, Soriano said, "It's not a way to make money. It's just a way to adjust our collections."

Bonaskiewich said the new system will "streamline" billing. "We always correct it in the resident's favor," she said.