The authority board’s recent vote to award a five-year, $7,385,100 contract to Tamaqua Transfer for collecting trash and recyclables in Hazleton should result in a savings for authority customers, administrators say.HCA’s existing contract with County Waste continues through March 31, which gives management time to work with the authority board and calculate a savings for transitioning to Tamaqua Transfer, HCA Business Manager Larry Patton said.“We’re looking at a rate decrease but this (new contract) doesn’t take effect until April 1,” Patton said. “Prior to that, we’ll compute everything.”
The authority oversees trash collection services for an estimated 10,200 to 10,300 units in Hazleton, according to Patton.
The roughly $7.38 million contract that was awarded to Tamaqua Transfer represents a five-year savings of about $803,000 when compared to current costs, Patton said.
Trash hauling services are expected to cost $11.95 per unit over the five-year agreement with Tamaqua Transfer, which is down from the per-unit fee of about $13 for trash collection under the current contract, Patton said.
Collection services, however, are only one aspect of garbage fees.
Billing, legal fees, and administrative costs are also factored into the current bill, which costs HCA customers $20 per month, Patton said.
While evaluating a fee reduction, the authority will also have to consider what, if any, action it will take in terms of making containers available to customers or whether it will provide other services, such as an electronics recycling program, Deputy Director Richard Ammon said.
Authority board President Phil Andras said he believes the savings presents an opportunity for the board to reduce rates, but said officials want to make at least recycling containers available for HCA customers when its contract with County Waste ends.
“When you look at the cost associated with hauling and the administrative fee, I still think there will be room for a rate reduction,” Andras said.
To read the full story, visit http://standardspeaker.com/news/trash-savings-in-the-bag-as-hca-switches-haulers-1.2290598.