'Exorbitant' Trash Rates Have Warminster Extending Contract

WARMINSTER, PA —With garbage collection rates "exorbitant," the township has locked up its trash hauler for the next two years.

Township Supervisors, at its meeting Thursday night, unanimously approved a contract extension through 2025 with Mascaro & Sons of Audobon.

"The service will still be exactly the same," Township Manager Tom Scott said.

And so will the cost for residents, township officials said.

The extension from the 2018 contract calls for Mascaro & Sons to be paid $3,641,796 for 2024 and $3,787.464 for 2025 to provide twice-weekly curbside trash pickup with contractor-provided wheeled receptacles. There's also a recycling collection once a week.

Supervisors said they wanted to get the contract extension inked as soon as possible.

"The new rates going out to bid are exorbitant," Supervisors Chairman Kenneth Hayes said. "As stewards of the township's money, this is the best deal we can get."

Hayes mentioned what residents in neighboring Northampton Township have faced since a new trash hauler agreement went into effect at the start of the year.

He said that Northampton Township residents there are paying $575 a year for "far-less service."

But Warminster Township residents won't see their trash collection fees increase even though rates are higher.

Hayes thanked Finance Director John Ramey for his "foresight" in putting a state recycling grant into the sanitation fund, thus eliminating the need for a fee hike.

"We're going to have a lot of happy residents," Councilwoman Judy Hoover said.

Ramey said that residents will still pay $440 a year for the twice-weekly collection.

"The fee is staying stable," Ramey said. "There are no increases."

The township also offers a $55 discount for its senior citizens on the trash bill. Ramey said that 2,500 residents take advantage of that discount.

Hayes said he worried that if trash collection rates continue to rise that the township might have to consider cutting back collection to once a week.

"The new fees will be quite stiff after this contract," he said.

Supervisors also approved the administration to pursue verification of bond and insurance requirements over the two-year contract extension.