BETHLEHEM, Pa. - The cost of trash and recycling services is spiking for many Lehigh Valley residents.
As contracts between some municipalities and service providers expire near the end of the year, the new agreements that replace them amount to major price hikes.
- Trash services are getting more expensive in the Lehigh Valley, which is filtering down to consumers as municipalities negotiate new contracts for services
- Macungie Borough saw prices more than double; Bethlehem may see a 50-100% increase in costs for its next contract
- Price increases are attributed to higher costs for staffing, fuel and equipment for service providers
Macungie Borough residents will see their trash bills more than double starting in November, from around $17 a month to over $40, as part of a new contract signed in September.
“The Refuse and Recycling industry is experiencing significant inflationary increases in labor, diesel fuel and equipment costs, which is reflected in the higher rate cost of refuse and recycle collection,” borough officials said in a press release.
Bethlehem’s recycling pickup contract with Republic Services expires at the end of the year. As a result, city officials need to seek bids for a new contract, and the agreement will likely cost more.
"What’s playing out because of these trends are 50%, 60%, sometimes even 70% or 100% increases, which is obviously a really big deal."Laura Collins, Bethlehem Director of Community and Economic Development
When Republic Services first decided not to renew their contract in August, Bethlehem Director of Community and Economic Development Laura Collins told the city council to brace for higher prices.
“What we’re seeing in other communities that are going out to bid, what’s playing out because of these trends are 50%, 60%, sometimes even 70% or 100% increases, which is obviously a really big deal,” she said.
According to Collins, Republic Services blamed rising prices on higher costs from staffing issues, supply chain disruptions and high costs for fuel. She said Bethlehem’s uncommon approach to recycling, which handles paper separately from other recyclables, also increases costs, which could push the city to single-stream recycling with their next contract.
In Northampton County, officials in Washington Township and the borough of West Easton are also currently looking for new service providers, and are likely to see the cost of services rise for citizens as a result.
Though places with contracts for garbage services that don’t expire in 2022 are spared for now, unless price pressures on the companies that provide garbage services begin to ease, higher prices are all but guaranteed down the line.
