Whitehall Township commissioners Oct. 13 awarded a five-year contract to J.P. Mascaro, Audubon, for processing and marketing recycled materials.

The move in effect rejected the low bidder, Cougle's Recycling Inc. of Hamburg, for failing to meet the bid specifications.

The commissioners awarded the bid after a 30-minute executive session at the end of the meeting.

"I made the mistake. I apologize for that," Daniel Macaulay of Cougle's Recycling said before the executive session. He asked the board to reconsider his company's bid.

Sam Augustine of Mascaro said the township should not reconsider Cougle's bid. He also said Mascaro has trucks located within 5 miles of the township where Cougle is 30 miles away in Berks County.

Other issues raised involved the transfer station.

Beginning in 2015, Mascaro will pay the township $22,709 for the recyclable materials. This figure will increase to $29,620 in 2019.

In a separate move, the board awarded a five-year contract to Waste Management of Pa. Inc. for the disposal of solid waste. The first year – 2015 – the firm will be paid $54 a ton and this will increase to $59.32 a ton in 2019.