The filing of liens by Whitehall Township has produced benefits.

The township has filed liens in an effort to collect from property whose owners who are severely delinquent in paying their garbage bills.

"Due to sheriff sales, judicial sales and bank takeovers, numerous lien payoff requests have been processed," Mayor Edward D. Hozza Jr. told the township commissioners at the Aug. 11 meeting. "The upcoming September judicial sale alone involves many liens and delinquent garbage bills, at a total of over $50,000."

In a related matter, Hozza noted the contract for refuse collection is up at the end of this year. J.P. Mascaro & Sons is the present hauler.

"The bids for garbage/recycling collection, municipal waste disposal and recycling processing and marketing has been advertised," Hozza said.

He added the bids are now "out on the street."

The township expects to award a contract in October. The pact will be for five years. Hozza indicated there will be changes beginning in 2015 regarding refuse collection, and the details will be made public later.