Salisbury Township residents will see different trash trucks pick up their garbage next year.

However, they should not see any changes in the trash service. Twice-weekly trash pickup is to continue.

And residents may even see their annual bill for garbage pickup lowered.

The Salisbury Township Board of Commissioners voted 4-0, with one commissioner absent at the Dec. 18 meeting, to approve a three-year contract with Republic Services. Commissioner Robert Martucci, Jr., made the motion to bring the contract approval to a vote. Commissioner James Seagreaves seconded it.

The contract calls for twice-weekly manual pickup for municipal solid waste and once-weekly pickup for recycling.

Republic was the apparent lowest bidder at $3,041,310 over three years.

Waste Management, Inc., which has been the township trash hauler, was the apparent highest bidder at $4,193,677 over three years.

J.P. Mascaro bid $3,853,080 over three years.

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.

Waste Management agreed to a month-to-month extension of its township contract through February 2015. Republic's pact is to begin March 1, 2015.

The garbage contract is expected to slightly change the numbers for the township's 2015 budget, but should not result in a tax increase.

The bid is actually lower than anticipated, which results in a savings for the township.

"There's a possibility the rates will be reduced," Salisbury Township Manager Randy Soriano said.

If there's an annual garbage fee reduction for residents, it would not occur until after the first quarter, or when the new trash pact with Republic begins March 1, 2015.

Republic's three-year bid is about $993,000 annually, a savings of about $600,000 annually compared to the $1.5 million the township has been paying annually.

"That will allow you to reduce your rates," Soriano told commissioners.

Township residents now pay $340 annually for trash pickup.

"It's a win-win situation," Soriano said of the new trash-hauler contract.

Township commissioners opted not to consider a five-year pact.

Commissioners also opted to not move ahead with automated trash pickup in Wards 4 and 5 on the township's west side.

The township now uses 20-gallon trash containers. The township may offer 32-gallon containers, which could be used for automated pickup.

Automated pickup, if implemented, would occur in 2016.

"We have a year to educate the people it's going to be that container," Commissioner President James A. Brown said.

The bid summary sheet included 12 options. Commissioners chose to only vote on the three-year prime bid.

Municipalities are required to award a contract to the lowest responsible bidder.

Township commissioners scheduled a special meeting, 7 p.m. Dec. 30 in the township municipal building, 2900 S. Pike Ave., to bring the 2015 budget to a vote.

Attending the Dec. 18 meeting were Dominic Fulginiti, municipal sales manager, Republic Services, King of Prussia, and Linda Emery, market sdministrator, public sector services department, Eastern Pa. market area, Waste Management, Kutztown.

Fulginiti said Republic has a trash-hauling contract with Easton and Fountain Hill and a recycling contract with Allentown.

The township's Solid Waste Management Ordinance approved 4-0 by commissioners at the Aug. 28 meeting allowed the township to issue Requests For Proposals from trash haulers.

Township officials discussed the waste-hauler contract at several township meetings, going back to March.