Formal Bids Under Consideration for Municipal Trash Collection Contract

In 2013, Souderton Borough Council conducted a survey of residents on their opinion of utilizing a single trash hauler to provide solid waste collection services and recycling services to our residents and smaller commercial businesses. The survey was distributed to approximately 2,100 accounts with an excellent response rate of 910 responses. In general the residents are satisfied with the current system of private subscriptions; however, there is strong support for switching to a single hauler municipal contract if economically advantageous. Based on this response, Souderton Borough Council has authorized the drafting of contract specifications and bid documents to obtain competitive quotations.

Sealed bids were opened at a public hearing on Monday, May 4, 2015. A copy of the bid tabulation and a copy of the general and detailed specifications are attached to this article for your review. Borough Council will be reviewing the bids and the potential for establishing a municipal trash collection contract to become effective January of 2016. Borough Council has set a public meeting on this topic for Monday, June 22, 2015 beginning at 7:00 pm in the Council Chambers of the Souderton Municipal Building, 31 W. Summit Street, Souderton, Pennsylvania. Based on the bids received, Borough Council is considering a program to provide municipal trash and recycling collection at a cost of $60.00 per quarter for residentail properties. Under this traditional service a 96 gallon tote will be provided for household trash and a 64 gallon tote will be provided for recycling. Collections will be completed weekly on the same day. Residents may also add additional cans and one bulk item each week for collection. As an option, residents may consider signing up for a bag program. This optional service will provide a 64 gallon wheeled tote for curb side collection of recyclable materials each week at a cost of $7.50 per quarter. Residents can also place up to four bags of household trash on the curb each week for collection at a cost of $4.00 per bag. Bags will be available at the Borough Office for purchase. Bulk item pickups will not be available for bag accounts. Borough Council continues to evaluate a muncipal trash program and believes that the vast majority of our residents will see the same and even an expanded level of service at very competitive prices. Borough Council further anticipates that the pricing will remain valid for three years. The program will not affect commercial accounts or apartment complexes that provide trash disposal through dumpster service.