Week in Review

Trashy Township, Messy Schools, Shoddy Work Top Local News

Palmer Township changed its trash collection system, but one resident complained that the township looks like a 'dump.'

Trash talk and trash changes were te talk of Palmer Township. The township switched to a new trash hauling system Wednesday. Meanwhile, a resident said at a recent meeting that the township looks like a "dump." The Easton Area School District is also considered a mess right now. And while it may be trying to plug holes by hiring a new superintendent, Forks Township is finding holes—with water leaks in its new public works building—and is still dealing with "shoddy" work on its amphitheater. Here is the Week in Review: Palmer Township resident Karen Miller appeared before the Board of Supervisors to complain about numerous eyesores. Forks Township officials want repairs to amphitheater done before summer begins. After three month-closure, …

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Palmer Trash Choice Close

Palmer Township supervisors expected to decide Sept. 25 on whether to go to automated garbage collection system.

Palmer Township may have a decision on how its trash should be collected at its next meeting. Officials are weighing whether to go to an automated garbage collection system, one that would use a mechanic arm to dump trash, thus cutting down on manpower needed for hauling. At a recent meeting, township recycling coordinator Cindy Oatis briefed the Board of Supervisors and residents about the benefits of such a system. With the move, two of the three people who man a garbage truck would be out of a job. But officials believe the change is worth it, since trash collection would be safer and more efficient. The board is expected to make a decision at its Sept. 25 meeting. Three bidders are competing for the multi-million-dollar collection …

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Palmer Township Trash Fees to Fall

New garbage collection system will mean less trash costs for Palmer Township residents annually.

One aspect of Palmer Township's decision to change its waste hauling collection from one contractor to three is something that will make residents happy. Your trash costs are going down. At a recent Board of Supervisors meeting, Chairman Dave Colver emphasized just that. "Rates are coming down. For the next five to eight years, there will be a reduction," Colver said. "There it is in black and white Palmer residents." Residents now pay $309 a year for garbage collection. But with the township possibly entering into a waste hauling contract that could last eight years, that cost reduction could be locked in for some time. "It could be between 5 percent to 10 percent lower," Colver said. "We're not sure yet, but it's going to be substantial…

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Palmer Splits Trash Collection Into Three Services

Palmer Board of Supervisors agrees to get bids on separate contracts for recycling, collection and hauling.

Palmer Township is making changes to how it will collect garbage. Instead of having one trash hauler, Palmer Township officials have decided to split the township's waste collection into three separate contracts: one for recycling, one for disposal and a third for hauling. The township's current trash and recycling hauler is J.P. Mascaro & Sons. "We will really be able to restructure," Township Manager Christopher Christman said. "We can drive our costs down in the end. It's going to be a much better process for everyone involved." Township Recycling Coordinator Cindy Oatis delivered the final revision of the proposal before the Board of Supervisors at last week's meeting. "I think we have it nailed down," she said in giving supervisors an…

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Forks Considers Garbage Collection by Robotic Arms

Forks Township supervisors ask for a cost proposal on a garbage collection system that uses carts and robotic arms instead of bins.

  Those yellow recycling cans that Forks Township residents put out on their curb each week could be soon considered garbage themselves. Raritan Valley, Forks Township's garbage hauler, made a pitch to the Forks Board of Supervisors last week to consider upgrading its trash collection system. For instant updates, follow Palmer-Forks Patch on Facebook and Twitter. Township Finance Director Jim Farley said that Raritan Valley was interested in discussing a "new method of trash retrieval" in which garbage is collected utilizing carts and robotic arms in an automated system. Neighboring Palmer Township is pondering a similar switch. "We're not asking Forks to be a guinea pig," said Ken Anderson of Raritan Valley. "This has been tested and …

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