Last night (Wednesday, January 27, 2021) at the Manalapan Township Committee meeting, the Governing Body took action to put in place a new trash collection contract to start on Monday, April 5th 2021. In the summer of 2020, a bid package was put together to include five options for trash removal in Manalapan Township. This specification package was put together after both internal discussion, and a public meeting in May of 2020. The public meeting was an in-person meeting at the Manalapan Recreation Center under the Dryer Pavilion with the Township Committee, Township Administration and those residents that came out to have their voices heard. The meeting was advertised as a chance to examine the possibilities in our current trash collection.
Five different possibilities existed:
Option #5 — The low end option consisted of eliminating trash pickup for all of our 40,000 residents, 14,280 households. This would force all resident to go out and secure their own trash hauler. It is the same method that is used by the five major towns that border Manalapan. (Englishtown does provide trash pickup for its 2000 residents) This was a very real possibility given the times we are in. It also would have been the most costly to our residents, to have them secure a trash hauler on the open market.
Option #4– The use of one 96 gallon can provided by the trash hauler that is designed to allow an automated arm on a truck to pick up the can without the driver leaving the vehicle, affectionately referred to as the one armed bandit. Recycling pick up would have been in a similar can of a different color.
Option#3– The option authorized by the Manalapan Township Committee last night is for a once a week trash pickup, in your own garbage cans, up to FOUR containers of 64 gallons or 50 pounds. Still allowed are the two bulk item pickups at the end of the month, and the brush pickup, bundled and tied. Recycling is now every other week, as allowed by law, without a limit on the number of containers.
Option #2 — This option included once a week trash collection with once a week recycling collection.
Option #1 – Was the same as #3 except for twice per week trash collection and once per week recycling, similar to what we have now.
Although every effort was extended to keep away from Option 5, while still trying to provide the level of service in Option 1, the finances spoke volumes. Option 1 would have been a reach in a good year, but in 2021, the year following the hemorrhaging of cash that 2020 brought, it just was not in the realm of possibilities. The cost difference of Option 3 to Option 1 would be in the millions over the course of the five year contract. For those that argue that we could afford Option 1, I say- maybe, but we definitely could not afford anything else, and it would have placed us in a very tight spot as the current COVID situation lingers on.
There is a very real possibility that the hauler, Roselle/Suburban Disposal, will be offering an option to the few residents that cannot get by on the once a week pick up, an option of a second pick up on a subscription type basis directly contracted between the hauler and the resident.
This new trash pickup hauling contract was just authorized last night, and the contracts were signed and executed by both sides just hours ago. There will be a lot of additional information coming over the next 60 plus days. We know there will be questions. There will also be implementation pains and second guessing. However, the fact remains clear, we pick up more trash, at the same frequency as the towns that surround us, as a service provided to you through your Municipal tax payment.
Your Township Committee takes the financial security of the town as a paramount concern. Second only to the safety and security of the residents. Any complaints, suggestions, concerns, or other constructive words can be directed to Mayor@mtnj.org. Please ensure that you are registered for the MTNJ.org website for all email alerts. This will be the main method of communication as there is much more to follow in the coming weeks and months.
Be well, stay safe, and best to all.
Mayor Jack McNaboe
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