Whitehall Township has approved a contract with JP Mascaro and Sons that will increase Whitehall’s garbage fee to $615 annually. The previous rate was $335 a year.

The fee would be $725 a year, should citizens request an additional garbage can.

This contract was approved at the Dec. 9 board of commissioners meeting and will be in place Jan. 1, 2025, until the end of 2029.

Deputy Mayor John Meyers said Waste Management is Whitehall’s current hauler, but the contract will expire at the end of this year. He said the township had an option to renew the contract with Waste Management for two more years, which would have kept the rate the same, but the company declined to renew the township’s contract.

The township reached out to five bidders for a new contract, and only two bids were returned. Board President Thomas Slonaker reported Mascaro’s was the lowest bid received by garbage haulers for a new township contract.

“There’s a lot of people that are going to struggle with this bill,” board Secretary Randy Atiyeh said.

To relate to the increased fee, commissioners spoke about the challenges the country is facing with inflation. Commissioner Robert Piligian noted no one is paying the same rates for anything they were five years ago.

“The waste industry has its challenges today. I extensively questioned the bidders on why costs have gone up,” Mayor Joseph R. Marx said. “Fuel, labor, tipping and equipment — all costs have dramatically gone up. Inflation, generally. Inflation has killed people in this country.

“I know this fee is going to be painful for people on fixed incomes. Even if you’re not on a fixed income, there are many people who are going to struggle with this,” Marx added.

Mascaro’s new deal with the township has created a big stir from Whitehall residents. At the meeting, many expressed anger and deep concern about raising the fee to nearly double the current rate.

Whitehall is not the only municipality facing an increase in the garbage fee. A number of neighboring areas also need to increase the garbage rate for residents.

“The township sincerely believes providing municipalwide collection greatly preserves the health, safety and welfare of the community,” Meyers said.