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West Windsor debates solid-waste contract as bids push township toward higher costs
Summary
Faced with bids that would raise collection costs by hundreds of thousands of dollars annually, the council discussed five contract options including moving to once-weekly pickup year-round and keeping bulk pickup; several council members favored once-weekly pickup to limit spending.
The West Windsor Township Council spent an extended portion of its Dec. 9 meeting discussing options for the township’s expiring solid-waste collection contract after staff reported that bids came in substantially higher than previous rates.
Administration presented five bid options: (1) keep the current schedule (twice-weekly pickup during summer months and once-weekly otherwise) with bulk pickup and accept a first-year increase of roughly $460,000 (about 66% in the first year in one scenario); (2) move to once-weekly pickup year-round with bulk pickup and a roughly $255,000 first-year increase; (3) keep summer twice-weekly service but limit bulk pickup to monthly service (larger percentage increases); and two other permutations with different bulk-pickup schedules. Staff framed a five-year comparison showing total costs that could exceed $3 million more under some options over five years.
Several council members said the only realistic options to limit costs are to reduce pickup frequency; one council member characterized the choice as a value judgment between summer convenience and saving taxpayer dollars. A council member noted that if the increase were above the municipal cap, the township might need to find savings elsewhere or request a cap exclusion from the state. Councilors asked administration to prepare public outreach explaining any change and indicated they will revisit the contract at the next meeting.
What happens next: The council will discuss contract approval at a subsequent meeting and intends to provide residents advance notice online and via a communications blast if pickup frequency will change.
