Monday night's Whitehall Township Board of Commissioners workshop meeting was dominated by a debate about whether to award a contract that would utilize a toter/cart system for the curbside pickup of refuse and recycling in the township.
Cindy Oatis, a solid waste consultant with Palmer Township, spoke of the benefits of the toter/cart system, saying the township would "put less into landfills" and increase their recycling efforts.
"The ease of this type of program is tremendous," Oatis said of the toters, which work on a fulcrum and "just roll" in an effort to placate fears some residents may have about their size.
"It can be intimidating to look at," she acknowledged, but told commissioners stories about how some elderly residents in other townships where they are being used proved to be surprised at how easy they were to negotiate.
The automated system Oatis spoke about Monday night, which involves refuse trucks with large steel arms to pick up the carts, is operating in Palmer, South Whitehall and Upper Macungie townships.
The savings for the proposed system are huge over the term of the contract, according to proponents of the system. Mayor Edward Hozza Jr. noted the township, once a visionary in the area of recycling, is no longer setting any trends.
"Our tonnage (of recycling) has fallen behind," he said, adding that it was his goal to get the township to once again lead the way in this area..
During a pointed exchange, Hozza said the true crux of the issue is that the "sheer volume of complaints" from residents about refuse pickup since J.P. Mascaro, the current hauler who acquired the contract for refuse pickup in the township five years ago, is staggering.
"The people had it," with Mascaro's service, according to Hozza.
Mascaro officials in attendance Monday night strongly rebuked the mayor's comments, saying they have provided quality service to the township during the period and have been responsible in the bidding process and responsive in their service.
The two bidders for the contract are Mascaro and Waste Management, which previously held the contract prior to Mascaro.
Commissioners are expected to vote on the curbside refuse pickup matter at their regular board meeting on December 8.
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