PLUMSTED TOWNSHIP

PLUMSTED MUNICIPAL UTILITIES AUTHORITY

Solid Waste

(Revised: April 27, 2010 and July 29, 2010)

OUTLINE FOR SOLID WASTE, BULKY WASTE AND RECYCLING COLLECTION PROGRAM

Background:

 Residents of Plumsted Township currently contract individually with one of three private waste haulers who provide solid waste and/or recycling collection services. These are: FCI, Waste Management and Tri-State. The average cost per quarter is approximately $90 or $360 annually. Trash is collected two times per week by FCI and Tri-State and once per week by Waste Management. Tri-State and FCI provide their customers with the option of one-time per week pick up of solid waste for approximately $67 per quarter or $268 per year.

Waste Management and Tri-State also provide twice a month recycling collection at no additional charge.

 The Township operates a recycling and bulky waste collection center at no charge to its residents. The annual operating cost to the Township is approximately $80,000. This is partially offset by grants the Township receives of approximately $15,000 annually.

 The municipalities of Upper Freehold, Millstone, Jackson and North Hanover (New Hanover did not return telephone calls) basically mirror how solid waste and recycling is presently collected in Plumsted Township. In Pemberton Township, the Township contracts with a waste hauler to provide curbside service for pick up of solid waste as well as bulky waste at a considerable savings to Pemberton residents. Pemberton residents currently pay $56 per quarter or $224 annually. Pemberton Township administers the program directly including billing and collection. The service includes collection of solid waste and bulky waste two times per week. Certain types of bulky waste such as a refrigerator are picked up on a pre scheduled basis. Recycling service in Pemberton is provided by Burlington County. Several municipalities in Ocean County (Lacey and Ocean among them) contract directly with a waste hauler as well.

Plumsted Township Ordinance, Chapter 55, Section 3, authorizes and directs the Plumsted Municipal Utilities Authority to establish and promulgate reasonable regulations detailing the manner, days and times, etc. in which solid waste is collected. The Plumsted Township Committee by Resolution has authorized the MUA to solicit bids for solid waste and recycling collection.

The public bidding for municipal refuse collection and recycling collection is heavily regulated by the State of New Jersey. The State has established uniform bid specifications which must be utilized if Plumsted decides to go out to bid for theses services. The bid specifications allow a contract to be let from one to five years in duration and permit Plumsted to specify the level and frequency of service but not much else.

Objectives:

The following objectives were developed to evaluate whether a change in the current collection method for solid waste, bulky waste and recycling would benefit the residents of Plumsted Township as well as the Township. These are:

 1. To provide a more efficient and cost effective method for the collection of household waste, including bulky waste, and recyclables.

 2. To provide equal or better service to Plumsted Township residents than presently provided by privately contracted services or Plumsted Township

 3. To reduce or eliminate the cost the Township currently spends for recycling and bulky waste collection/removal.

Types of Waste to be accepted:

JDEP defined Type 10 Waste: general household waste

NJDEP defined Type 13 Bulky Waste: typical household appliances, wood, etc.

Mandatory Recyclable Materials

Duration of Contracted Service

The State’s minimum bid specification allow contract terms between one and five years. A one year contract with two one year renewal options would seem to provide the better option for Plumsted as a start up operation and also to encourage competitive proposals.

Level of Service:

 All residences are proposed to be serviced.

Unlimited curbside collection for residential solid waste, including bulky waste, and recyclables. Residents provide solid waste and recycling containers. An alternative is to have the contractor provide containers for household waste and recycling.

 Collection will be provided to the following public buildings:

  Plumsted Township Municipal Building

  Plumsted Township Public Works and Recreation Complex

  Plumsted Township Police Department

  The Welcome Center

  Recycling/Bulky Waste Center- container service

  Service Options:

 Type 10 and Bulky Waste:

  One- time per week with bulky waste one- time per month

  Two- times per week with bulky waste one- time per month

 Mandatory Recycling (single stream):

  One-time per week

  Two times per month

*All bids to exclude all tipping fees. Current tipping fee is $71.35/ton for household waste and $81.35/ton for bulky waste.