Walnutport residents will have to wait another month to see how much of an increase they’ll see in their garbage bills next year and beyond.

By a unanimous vote, borough council on Thursday agreed to reject the two bids it received for garbage collection.

Council will readvertise for bids, to be opened when it meets at 7 p.m. Oct. 10.

The borough received bids for four-year contracts from Casella Waste Systems and J.P. Mascaro & Sons.

Casella Waste Systems turned in the apparent low bid of $1,361,770, while J.P. Mascaro bid $1,986,024.

However, borough solicitor Michael Corriere noted that Casella’s proposal was defective because it only included the monthly amount per year and not the yearly total, which was required.

Whichever bid council eventually approves, the contract will have both garbage and recycling each week of the year over the course of the four-year contract.

In June, Mayor Wayne Weidner told borough council he had been getting some concerns about items not eligible for collection.

Councilwoman Jen Wentz said at that time that may very well be the case due to the cost, and added the borough doesn’t want it to be exorbitant for the residents.

Council President Michael Gaston noted that in other municipalities, prices are jumping.

Council previously awarded a four-year contract to County Waste for $695,640 from 2021-24.

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

In September 2022, council approved an increase of up to $20 in the garbage bill rates for 2023 to compensate for a possible rise in recycling.