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Walnutport, trash hauler meet to iron out kinks

Walnutport hopes it has worked out some of the kinks with its current trash hauler over garbage collection.

Councilwoman Jennifer Wentz informed borough council on Thursday that there was a recent meeting with County Waste to address some issues they were encountering.

“We did address specific complaints (with some garbage pickup and recycling not happening),” Wentz said. “I believe this past Sunday’s pickup went well.”

That notwithstanding, Wentz said the situation is likely to remain a work in progress.

“We’re hoping we kind of ironed out any of the bugs,” she said. “We’re always going to have problems; it’s the way of the world.”

However, Councilwoman Patrice Hunsicker said she saw things a bit differently.

“From day one, they have been accepting recycling, only what’s in the cans,” Hunsicker said. “If it’s not in the can, they don’t get out and pick it up.”

Hunsicker suggested the reason for that.

“They’re also collecting in Slatington the same day they’re coming here,” she said. “They don’t come in the morning, they come in the afternoon.”

It was noted there was an instance where a truck broke down.

Hunsicker said a truck breaking down is one thing, but not having enough employees is another.

In September, council awarded a four-year contract to County Waste in the amount of $695,640 from 2021-2024.

The borough received just one other bid, from Tamaqua Transfer and Recycling, which had been the borough’s trash hauler, in the amount of $717,820.

Wentz noted at that time that the bid quotes were a combination of collection and transporting, yearly landfill solid waste disposal cost, and recyclables.

Before council’s decision, several residents asked council to consider a new trash hauler.

The borough has been plagued with complaints from the community concerning garbage and recycling pickup for some time.

Council hired Tamaqua Transfer in 2017 to save money and improve customer service for residents.

Due to the change in companies, collection day was changed from Wednesday to Monday morning with every other Monday slated for recycling pickup.