Middletown Sued By Trash Collector Over New Trash Pickup Changes

MIDDLETOWN, NJ — Middletown has now been sued by one of the companies that used to pick up trash in the area, but was not selected for Middletown's new lucrative, Township-wide contract.

Trash collector Republic Services filed the lawsuit against Middletown Township in September, but the suit was just reported on Monday. Republic says that Middletown's new garbage and recycling pick-up changes were done in secret and bidded out improperly.

When Middletown announced earlier this year that they would go to Township-wide consolidated trash and recycling pick-up, Republic was one of two companies that submitted proposals to receive the five-year contract. Republic lost the contract to Central Jersey Waste and Recycling, which submitted a lower bid by by about $92,000. Middletown chose the lowest bidder for the service, selecting Central Jersey Waste and Recycling, which will be paid $21.7 million over the next five years to pick up Middletown's waste.

Middletown maintains they chose Central because they simply submitted a lower bid. Township Administrator Anthony Mercantante released a scathing statement on the lawsuit Tuesday:

“The Township understands why a bidder would be upset losing a $21 million contract by less than $100,000, but no lawsuit is going to change the fact that they are the high bidder,” said Mercantante. “The court has already decided that the complainant’s claims did not justify a stay because they are unlikely to succeed on the merits, and despite this lawsuit, the State Local Finance Board approved the Township’s actions too because it’s going to save taxpayers money.”

According to their lawsuit, Republic says Middletown officials violated the Open Public Meetings Act by not deliberating on the bids during an open public meeting, the Asbury Park Press reported.

"We don't feel the lawsuit has merit," Middletown Mayor Gerry Scharfenberger told Patch Tuesday.

Middletown's new Township-wide garbage and recycling collection will begin January 1. As Patch reported, new carts are being rolled on this week and next, with the first deliveries being made in the Bayshore section.

Related:

Middletown Makes Big Change To Garbage Pickups

Middletown Starts Delivering New Trash/Recycling Carts This Week

Top image via Morguefile