NANTICOKE — An increase in garbage and recycling fees prompted much discussion at Wednesday’s budget hearing and monthly council meeting as the board approved a bid that will see residents pay $415 yearly for trash collection starting in the new year.
Council unanimously approved first reading for Mayor Kevin Coughlin’s proposed 2024 budget, which would not increase taxes or sewer fees for the upcoming year. But council also approved a $1.5 million bid from JP Mascaro and Sons for trash, recycling and yard waste collection beginning in 2024 and ending in 2026, with the option of extending the contract for two additional one-year periods thereafter.
The previous trash collection fee was $258.
If a resident pays in full by Jan. 31, the fee would be discounted to $395. There also would be an option to pay in three installments of $138.33.
Accounts that do not pay in full or pay the first installment by Jan. 31 would be considered delinquent, the fee would increase to $456.50, and they would no longer be eligible for installment payments.
The maximum amount of four bags per collection will remain.
Deputy Counsel for JP Mascaro and Sons Al DeGennaro explained that a number of factors went into the increased cost of trash collection, particularly the economic fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic, which contributed to rising interest rates, fuel costs, labor, insurance and wage increases for the company.
Despite the reasons given, many residents who attended the meeting did not seem convinced that the trash fee had to increase so drastically, and said they felt Mascaro and Sons were using the pandemic as an excuse to raise prices. Many argued that the increase is simply not feasible for senior citizens or those on fixed incomes.
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