North Union, South Union approve waste contracts
The North Union-South Union Intergovernmental Board awarded contracts for the collection of solid waste and recyclables in both townships that included a rate increase for residents during a special meeting Monday. North Union Township supervisors Thomas Kumor, Robert Tupta and Curt Matthews and South Union Township supervisors Thomas Frankhouser, Rick Vernon and Robert Schiffbauer voted 6-0 in favor of awarding the contract for garbage collection to Veolia Environmental Services of McClellandtown. Supervisors also voted 6-0 to award the contract for recyclables to Goodwill Industries.
Both Veolia and Goodwill were the township’s current collectors of garbage and recyclables, respectively.
Supervisors said joining forces helps keep rates low as possible for residents in both townships.
Vernon, who made the motion to award the five-year garbage contract to Veolia that was seconded by Kumor, said Veolia submitted the overall low bid taking both residential and commercial garbage pickup accounts into consideration.
Veolia’s bid for residential curbside was $9.41 and $13.91 for rear pickup. For commercial locations, Veolia’s bid came in at $40 a month curbside and $48 a month rear pickup.
Residents can expect an increase of about $3 increase a month, while commercial businesses can expect a monthly increase of $15 to $30.
Veolia was one of three companies to submit bids, which were opened during a special meeting July 7 in the South Union Township municipal building.
All companies that submitted bids agreed to pay the townships a monthly $5,500 franchise fee. Supervisors said money from the franchise fee is used to cover the cost associated with the collection of recyclables so that the charge is not passed on to the residents.
The motion to award the contract to Goodwill was made by Kumor and seconded by Schiffbauer.
Goodwill will continue recyclable items at the residential level once a month for 62 cents per home under a five-year contract.
Terms of the contract state recyclables at commercial businesses will be collected weekly for $24 a month, twice weekly for $48 a month, thrice weekly for $72 a month or $6 for collection once a month.
Goodwill was one of two companies to submit bids and was the low bidder.