Trash collection and recycling for South Whitehall residents will cost $59 more in 2013, increasing from $285 to $344 per year.

Township Manager Jon Hammer said, during the board's Dec. 5 meeting, the township can no longer afford to use its reserve account to offset increases from the hauler.

Director of Administration Tony Ganguzza explained a new billing procedure will be instituted next year.

As a cost-saving measure, the township will no longer mail quarterly reminders for garbage bills.

Instead, the trash-recycling invoice will be sent to residents only once a year in January.

Property owners may submit one annual payment or four quarterly payments.

All billing coupons will be sent together as the year begins.

Residents who choose the quarterly option will have to submit payments, without a reminder, by Jan. 31, April 30, July 31 and Oct. 31.

Bills not paid without 30 days of the due date will be charged a 5-percent penalty per month, which will be added to the balance due.

Board President Christina "Tori" Morgan asked whether it would take time for residents to become accustomed to the lack of reminders.

"I think there will be some stumblers," Ganguzza said, adding only the trash-refuse invoice is changing. Sewer will continue to be billed quarterly as it is now.

Ganguzza said 2013 is the last year for J.P. Mascaro's current contract.

Additional legal fees will be necessary in the new year as staff work with the solicitor to draft a new contract, explained Ganguzza, citing another reason to offset costs through the rate increase.

He said the hauler's fees have been increasing throughout the five-year contract through an escalator clause to cover fuel increases and other costs.

The township had been covering those increases.

"We need to increase rates to balance our revenues and expenses," Ganguzza said. "There will be significant costs in 2013."

In other business, Ganguzza said a "handful" of trees will be removed and replaced by new ones on the South Whitehall municipal campus.