Whitehall Township Mayor Edward D. Hozza Jr. pushed for the board of commissioners to award a contract to a private hauler that utilizes the toter/cart system for the curbside pickup of refuse and recycling.

This would represent a dramatic change for how garbage has been picked up from residences across the township.

Commissioners President Linda Snyder said before the start of the commissioners workshop on Monday, "We will discuss it Monday when we go over budget changes."

Mentioning she has been outspoken on the issue at the budget workshops, Snyder stated "I certainly will make a recommendation." The board votes on the contract for curbside refuse pickup at its December meeting.

The bidders are J.P. Mascaro, the current hauler of refuse pickups, and Waste Management, a firm that previously held the pact. The contract is for five years,

Hozza said the issue is whether "to automate or not to automate trash and recycling pickups." The mayor said the savings for the proposed system are huge over the term of the contract.

For the first time the township is segmenting the trash and recycling into three separate categories. The commissioners awarded Waste Management the pact for the landfill where the refuse will be taken to by the hauler. The second contract, for recycling, went to J.P. Mascaro. The third, which has caused a firestorm at the budget workshops, involves the refuse pickups and whether to use the controversial toter/carts.

Snyder and Hozza are at odds regarding whether a garbage fee reduction for residents would be available during the third year of the contract,

"My proposal is to use a portion of the $595,368 in landfill savings in 2015 to purchase 65-gallon single-stream recycling toter/carts for over 8,000 homes at a cost of $450,000," said Hozza.

"They are too heavy," Snyder said. The carts have wheels but women can't always move them without assistance, she said.

"Have you thought about a pilot program?" Commissioner Thomas Slonaker asked, suggesting first trying the system in a part of the township.

Hozza said testing and implementation has taken place in other areas. The automated system, involving refuse trucks with large steel arms to pick up the carts, is operating in Palmer, South Whitehall and Upper Macungie townships. North Whitehall recently adopted the automated system.

"I will keep an open mind," said Commissioner Dennis Hower, referring to the fact that on a couple of occasions refuse was not picked as scheduled by Mascaro personnel.

"My recommendation to the township Board of Commissioners is also based on the hundreds of complaints that we in the front lines in the Whitehall Township municipal building have received over the last five years regarding the service by J.P. Mascaro," said Hozza.

Commissioner Gerard Palagonia and Snyder questioned not only the savings projected from recycling, but also the differences on how the two competing businesses operate in proving the services to the community and its residents.

"Change is inevitable. We can't be shortsighted in our decision making on this contract," said Hozza. "We need to realize the decision made today will impact the township for years to come."

"I only want to look out for the taxpayers," said Snyder.

Regarding the landfill pact, Hozza advised the board the township will pay a per-ton fee that in the first year will be $598,368 less than the township's 2014 landfill cost of $1,030,368. Over the life of the contract, this will save the township about $2 million assuming the township maintains or reduces the current average municipal solid waste tonnage of 8,000 per year.

For the township to reach its goal in 2015, Whitehall may be one of the last municipalities in the Lehigh Valley to impose limits on solid waste refuse at the curb. The administration is recommending using four 35-gallon refuse containers at the curb in 2015 and 2016.