South Brunswick Nearing New Solid Waste Disposal Contract

The South Brunswick Township Council is moving forward on a new solid waste disposal contact that is expected to save about $1.2 million over the course of a three-year contract, while maintaining the same services.

"I'm really pleased with this because we thought we may have to come down on the services we provide, but to be able to save that kind of money and still offer the same services is something we're happy about," said Mayor Frank Gambatese.

A total of six companies submitted bids on the new contract. The lowest bid on the contract, came in from Midco Waste Systems in New Brunswick for about $5.4 million over three years. The township's current contract, also with Midco Waste Systems, runs through the end of 2011.

The second lowest bid was provided by Waste Management, which came in at approximately $5.5 million.

about how to reduce the solid waste budget, which runs slightly over $2 million.

When the council entered into the previous contract, it explored the option of going with single-stream instead of dual-stream recycling collection. However, the council decided against the bid for the single-stream recycling option due to the added cost that would've accompanied it.  

Council members said that bid for single-stream recycling would've required the township to purchase 10,000 new containers for collection of materials. Deputy Mayor Chris Killmurray said at a meeting in December that the switch would've cost each resident $100 per container, which is why the council decided against the plan.

"We were looking to see whether we could obtain significant savings on the garbage contract and have examined all the different options in the bids," Gambatese said. "We were concerned that the only way we'd be able to obtain savings is by eliminating some of the services we perform. Like putting refrigerators and stoves curbside for bulk pickup. Those types of services are costly and we thought we may have to eliminate them."

With the new contract, the township will still offer the same services, at a savings of about  $420,000 per year. In addition, Gambatese said the contract will include Midco conducting a bi-annual brush pickup, which had previously been performed by the township Department of Public Works.

"That's an add-on that we didn't have in the previous contract and will save us money," he said. "When our people perform the pickup it's about $90,000 for each pickup. With the new deal it will cost about $120,000 for both pickups, so it's cheaper for them to do it than us and it saves the DPW from spending a week doing it."

The Township Council is expected to vote on the new contract at its next meeting on Sept. 13.