The Borough of Northampton plans to get tough on residents who fail to pay their garbage bills.

Instead of sending delinquent refuse accounts to the magisterial district judge for collection, the borough is expected to retain Portnoff Law Associates, Norristown, to collect unpaid municipal garbage bills and back real estate tax bills.

Council is expected to act favorably on the administration's request to retain Portnoff, which represents over 100 municipalities, school districts and municipal authorities throughout the state, with several in the region.

The borough is owed $270,000 in back garbage assessments. Some accounts date as far back as the 1990s.

Borough Manager Gene Zarayko said it is time to utilize "different tactics" to collect unpaid garbage bills. The action may require adoption of new legislation.

"Bill [borough solicitor William McCarthy] has been given eight heavy hitters," Zarayko said of past due accounts.

The borough earlier sent out 4,000 garbage collection bills to property owners.

The discount period ended Feb. 17. The net amount runs through March 31, after which a 10-percent penalty is added to unpaid accounts.