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Resident urges Gettysburg to revisit Waste Connections recycling can sizes as manager defends contract
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Summary
At the April 13 Gettysburg Borough Council meeting, resident Stephen Voorhees urged the borough to require 65‑gallon recycling carts under the new Waste Connections contract, saying the 36‑gallon units distributed so far are too small. Borough staff said residents can request larger containers and described the contract’s service features, including a five‑year rate freeze.
Stephen Voorhees told the Gettysburg Borough Council on April 13 that the new recycling containers supplied under the borough’s contract with Waste Connections are too small and will not handle expected volumes, particularly now that glass is being accepted in curbside recycling.
"The old cans from Waste Management had a capacity of 64 gallons. The new ones...are only 36 gallons," Voorhees said, adding that the smaller, lighter containers fill in two days and are not built to handle heavier loads. He presented three photographs to illustrate the size difference and urged council to add a contract codicil requiring 65‑gallon carts.
Borough staff responded that the borough has previously provided 32‑gallon bins and continues to offer free blue rectangular recycling containers from the borough office. Manager/Treasurer staff said residents may request alternative containers from Waste Connections and that staff will contact the company to identify options and clarify whether larger carts are available and any incremental cost.
Manager/Treasurer read a prepared statement into the record explaining the policy rationale for the new universal residential service with Waste Connections, saying the contract standardizes service for all households, provides weekly trash and single‑stream recycling, includes durable collection totes at no additional cost, and freezes residential rates for five years. The statement noted the borough selected the lowest responsive, responsible bidder and emphasized predictability of rates amid rising fuel costs.
Council members asked staff to obtain and distribute a list of accepted materials for the e‑cycling program and to confirm whether Waste Connections must provide larger containers under the contract. The manager said staff will follow up and disseminate recycling guidance to residents.
The council did not take formal action on the container size at the meeting. The issue remains a staff follow‑up item: staff will contact Waste Connections to determine availability and cost of larger carts and report back to council.
