Palmer Passing On Annual Trash Savings

Imagine saving $232 on your trash bill over the next eight years?

That could be the case for residents in Palmer Township.

With a new waste hauling contract in place with Waste Management, Palmer Township is passing on savings of $29 a year for each year of the five-year contract. If the contract is extended, once a year for another three years, that's more money in your piggy bank.

"We're passing the savings along when everything else is going up," said Dave Colver, chairman of the Palmer Township Board of Supervisors.

By breaking up its contract into thirds, Palmer hopes to bolster its recycling efforts since it will be compensated for recyclables.

Right now, Palmer Township's recycling rate stands at 17 percent.

Colver said he's been told by haulers to expect that figure to at least double.

"We never got paid for recyclables before," he said. "Now, 7,200 residents every week plus the recycling center included, we will be getting paid $47.68 per ton for all recycling that is generated in the township."

Colver said, based on the current 17 percent recycling rate, that amounts to $90,000 in additional revenue, "which will help the bottom line greatly."

"Cost savings on the hauling and disposal is a great thing and will allow us to build up a reserve for the future and drop rates to $280," Colver said.

The new contract begins on May 2.