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Penn Township awards five-year refuse contract to Anthracite Waste amid resident objections
Summary
The board awarded the 2026–2030 refuse and recycling contract to Anthracite Waste Services after public bid openings; residents raised objections to mandatory enrollment and loss of pay-as-you-throw options.
Penn Township’s Board of Commissioners voted to award the township’s five-year refuse and recycling collection contract to Anthracite Waste Services, LLC, following a public bid opening. The award was recorded on April 21, 2025, after staff presented multi-year per-unit bid schedules from several vendors.
The minutes record detailed per-quarter pricing submitted by bidders for 35-, 65- and 95-gallon toters for each contract year. After reviewing bids, the board voted to award the contract to Anthracite Waste Services. The contract terms in the minutes cover 2026 through 2030 with specific quarterly unit pricing included in the bid record.
The award prompted public comment at the May 19 meeting. Several residents urged the board to preserve an option for small-volume households and seniors. “Senior/single population do not have a lot of trash, and the price is just not worth it for me,” said John Reading. Dave Miller added, “Penn Township said they cannot force a hauler to bid, but we are forcing Penn Township residents to sign up for the trash.”
Commissioner Elksnis clarified the terms staff presented, saying the pay-as-you-throw bag option is no longer available under the new contract and that Anthracite Waste will continue to collect brush, Christmas trees, large items and metal pickup. Solicitor Sabol cited the First-Class Township Code in explaining the township’s authority to regulate collection and establish fees.
The minutes record the board approved the award; the record also notes an opt-out option for temporary absences (quarterly opt-out for snowbirds) and that some operational elements such as brush and special pickups will remain coordinated with the township.
The board’s action moves the township to a single-stream recycling toter system under the new contract and formalizes the billing and fee structure for the five-year term. Residents who objected during public comment were advised that the township selected the contract based on the bid process and the legal authority to regulate refuse service.
