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Council reviews solid‑waste contracts and a proposed curbside food‑scraps pilot; some members urge delay
Summary
Public works recommended awarding the one‑year trash/recycling contract to BNL and proposed a boroughwide bi‑weekly curbside food‑scraps pilot (estimated ~$100/household annually); several councilors raised cost and participation concerns and asked to defer decision.
At the Nov. 3 work session Swarthmore's public works committee recommended awarding the borough's one‑year trash and recycling contract to BNL (lowest first‑year bid) and advancing a pilot curbside food‑scraps program for residents and voluntary commercial collection options.
Public Works reported it received multiple bids and recommended accepting the lowest first‑year offer for trash/recycling while keeping options to re‑bid or decline option years. "We're really accepting the first‑year bid and have the option to pick up the second and third years," a committee representative said.
The committee also recommended a bi‑weekly residential food‑scraps collection pilot featuring a provided 5‑gallon bucket and educational support from the Environmental Advisory Commission. The estimated annual cost was presented roughly as $100 per household served (a first‑year cost ballpark of about $149,000 if widely subscribed).
"I'm composting at home; this seems expensive this year given other costs," one council member (Oscar) said, asking that the pilot be deferred. Other members raised operational questions: frequency, bucket logistics, commercial volumes and whether borough businesses should be encouraged or required to participate.
Borough Manager Sean said contractors offered commercial service pricing and additional buckets could be purchased by businesses; the proposed residential program is voluntary and aimed at improving diversion rates. Council directed staff to provide clearer per‑household cost breakdowns, participation assumptions and vendor performance reporting before any final award or residential program launch.
Next steps: contract award for trash/recycling placed on next meeting agenda for formal action; staff to return with clarified food‑scraps cost/participation modeling and options for piloting or deferring roll‑out.
