Middletown approves five-year single-hauler trash contract; board selects once‑a‑week automated pickup with on‑demand bulk option

The Middletown Township Board of Supervisors voted on Aug. 12 to award a five‑year contract for residential collection, recycling and yard‑waste services to Waste Management, moving the township from twice‑weekly manual curbside pickup to once‑weekly automated collection with an on‑demand bulk‑pickup system.

Township staff and the firm’s representative framed the decision as a response to market pressures and rising costs. Julie Goulis, who led the bid process, said the township received three bids and that Waste Management was the lowest responsible bidder for the options presented. She told the board the township solicited public feedback, mailed postcards to about 12,250 households and received roughly 3,500 survey responses showing nearly an even split between support for automated collection and support for the status quo.

Supporters of the contract argued its fixed five‑year pricing and customer‑service upgrades would modernize service. A Waste Management representative described new account numbers, a mobile app for scheduling on‑demand bulk pickups, an improved recycling processing facility and an offer to supply and maintain large automated carts. The bid includes provisions for smaller carts on request after an initial quarter and a procedure to accommodate residents with disabilities.

Opponents and many residents urged the board to preserve twice‑weekly manual pickup despite higher cost estimates. During a lengthy public‑comment period dozens of residents warned that larger carts and once‑weekly service would be inconvenient for elderly or low‑income households, would require additional purchases or rentals for families with more waste, and could increase street clutter or illegal dumping. Several speakers also asked how on‑demand bulk pickup would work in practice, whether turnaround times would be fast enough, and how the township would help residents who lack internet or smartphone access.

Board members debated the tradeoffs. Some supervisors emphasized convenience and continuity of local jobs; others focused on cost burdens for fixed‑income residents and the potential loss of a higher level of service. The board amended the motion to specify that the monthly bulk option would be managed as an on‑demand pickup program so residents could schedule extra bulk collections when needed.

Chair moved, and the board seconded, an award to Waste Management for the township’s chosen option (once‑weekly automated collection with on‑demand bulk pickup). The motion passed by voice vote.

The contract is fixed‑price for five years per the bid. The township retained the authority to classify specific streets or developments as manual collection service areas where automated trucks cannot safely operate; staff said those exceptions will be finalized with the hauler and may be adjusted after rollout without changing the contract price. Residents will continue to pay the service fee as a separate line on the real‑estate tax bill; optional extra services (for additional carts or extra on‑demand bulk pickups outside the included service) will be billed directly by the contractor.

Next steps include finalizing operational routes with the hauler, a resident education campaign to explain new carts and the app, and a phased rollout of containers and accounts. Staff said Waste Management will provide customer‑service resources and that the hauler will handle cart replacement, subject to the contract terms. The board asked staff to prioritize outreach for seniors and households with limited internet access and to confirm cost and accommodation details before the service start date.

The board’s vote follows months of outreach, a township survey, and public testimony at multiple meetings; the township acknowledged the choice will leave some residents unhappy but described the decision as balancing cost, service reliability and long‑term predictability.