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Upper Allen extends Republic Services contract after residents detail missed pickups
Summary
After hours of resident testimony about missed trash pickups and spotty communication, the Upper Allen Board of Commissioners voted to extend its Republic Services contract for one year at $431.40 per household per year while directing staff to tighten service-level expectations.
Upper Allen Township officials voted Wednesday to extend their contract with Republic Services for one year, after residents gave detailed accounts of missed trash pickups and urged the board either to rebid the contract or demand stronger service guarantees.
Republic Services' municipal sales manager, Andy Warren, told the board he was "here just to say sorry what happened last week" and described a national shortage of CDL drivers that left the company short‑staffed during recent holiday schedules. Warren said Republic has brought in out‑of‑division drivers, launched a paid CDL training program and will credit accounts for missed pickups.
Residents disputed the vendor's metrics and described ongoing communication problems. Organizer Josh Brown presented results from an online community feedback form and a mapped spreadsheet showing clusters of missed service; many residents said they were not told when crews would return and that text-message notifications were inconsistent. Several speakers urged clearer customer notice, smaller cart-size options for low-volume households and a stronger service-level agreement in any future bid.
Commissioners debated whether to rebid the contract or use the final one‑year extension option in the current agreement. Multiple board members said rebidding now would likely produce little savings given current fuel and labor markets; one commissioner noted neighboring Lower Allen's current quarterly rate was higher than Upper Allen's proposed extension. After discussion about penalties, reporting, and contract specifications, the board approved a one‑year extension to Republic Services at $17.85 per quarter (quoted as $431.40 per year per household), and directed staff to pursue service‑level improvements and clarified contract language for future solicitations.
What happens next: Township staff will work with Republic to improve communication, add reporting of missed pickups, and explore container‑size options and stronger service-level terms in the bid specifications for the next contract cycle.
