Inking of pact with single refuse hauler delayed
8/14/2003The plan to contract with a single refuse hauler for Springfield Township has been slowed by complaints from residents as well as a need to clarify bids from two companies.
Township administrator Bob Anderson said BFI Waste Systems requires that 98 percent of the potential collection points in the township be customers of the service and the proposal from Waste Management requires that it become the sole service provider in the township.
“I don't think we can guarantee that,” Mr. Anderson said, adding that the township doesn't want to force anyone to be part of a system.
Although both companies include recycling in all of the options they propose, costs vary by amount of waste to be collected each week, how billing is handled and other factors.
The bid, which appears to be the lowest, he said, is from BFI, which would charge $8.26 per household, per month through 2008. A single-family house currently pays $15.70 per month for BFI's once-a-week refuse collection, without picking up recyclables.
Mr. Anderson said he needs to clarify some of the options and would like proposals from the companies based on a lower number of homes participating in the program.
The township may seek bids based on varying levels of participation, but Mr. Anderson acknowledged that lower participation rates would mean less in savings for those covered by any agreement that might be reached.
The purpose behind the move to find one waste hauling company has been to reduce the number of trucks traveling through the township daily as well as the amount of refuse that sometimes winds up on the street.
The desire also has been to lower payments to residents and to instill a habit of recycling.
Mr. Anderson said that an increased use of recycling by residents could reduce the number of “Dumpster days'' sponsored by the township and save $25,000.
Many have complained, however, that the system takes away their right to choose the hauler they do business with and that a township-wide program could put smaller operators out of business.
In the last three years, plans to contract with one waste hauler by Sylvania and Washington townships have been dropped because of opposition or indifference by residents.