Home Page NewtonPA home  |  Board home

The Smell of Garbage (Contracts) Never Goes Away

Is something bothering you?
Blow off steam here.

Moderator: Site Mods

The Smell of Garbage (Contracts) Never Goes Away

Postby JoeP » Fri Feb 18, 2011 1:32 am

Interesting that after all the complaints and posts over the years about the garbage contracts entered into by the Newton Supervisors, how things now get taken for granted.  Not a peep from anyone about the 2011 rate increase.  My bill went from $86.03 a quarter to $89.41.  Or just about $360 a year or about $7 a week.  This is outrageous.  I do not understand why our supervisors can't seek out a better deal for Newton residents.  I for one would like to the supervisors post an analysis of what neighboring residents in adjacent townships and boroughs pay annually for garbage collection, along with who provides their service.

How about offering residents cost savings alternatives such as paying by the bag or only paying when they put garbage out.  Many times we could easily skip a week since we have so little.  There has to be a better way.

I have been whistling this tune for several years now - but no one is listening.
User avatar
JoeP
Site Mod
Site Mod
 
Posts: 111
Joined: Thu Apr 29, 2004 11:54 pm
Location: Newton - Beaver Pond Road

Re: The Smell of Garbage (Contracts) Never Goes Away

Postby husky » Thu Mar 03, 2011 12:53 pm

How are people 'informed' about these contracts, terms, their services and obligations, etc? It looks like  it is only after the fact, through the service providers, when they pursue payment or services.  If the town can mail taxes to all they can mail other information with them, or instead, in another mailing using the same list.  The Internet is 'nice' but many don't have access to it, the time for it (unless it is emailed to them), and besides the town web site while a good start, is often well behind and lacks useful/relevant details.  

I spoke to a neighbor who did not know terms of, require, nor use garbage services. WHY this is so, should be of no interest to the town as long as they comply with littering, environmental, and such laws. (Garbageman states there is an 'exemption' list of some sort, where some bureaucrat or board (who is this?) ca review the residents garbage handling and lifestyle to decide if they approve of it?) . In fact the neighbor is one of us who regularly help  keep the road sides clean as he walks PICKING UP THE GARBAGE AND LITTER left by others including the collectors. Perhaps this will help them in their pursuit of an exemption.  :? This neighbor is now being dunned by Garbageman for back, non payment of, services not used. This stinks (pun intended).  

Garbageman  states that there are terms committing/requiring residents (or is it property owners?) to pay for garbage collection services whether or not  they use them.  If this is the case, why aren't they just included in the taxes? The current method of garbage billing/administration  just adds to resident's complexity, annoyance, and overhead  in dealing one on one with the contractor of the year.  

It also stinks that Newton wants to force residents to pay an outside company for services they don't use. What is next, forcing everyone to pay for cable or telephone? OH, but wait let's examine this a bit further.

Compare this garbage contract/provider, WHERE THEY ATTEMPT TO REQUIRE RESIDENTS TO PAY FOR UNNEEDED UNUSED SERVICES to the CABLE CONTRACT WHERE MANY CAN'T GET SERVICES BECAUSE THE TOWN  DID NOT REQUIRE THE CABLE PROVIDER  TO SUPPLY ALL RESIDENTS who want it. Here, the town and provider here could care less. (This contract should require coverage of all but the MOST isolated residents for the privilege of a monopoly. It uses density criteria not typical of our town to exclude many residents.)  

Where is the consistency? Who does this stuff and to whose best interest?? How are providers selected, is it ONLY based on price without examining alternate terms (like per bag or bi weekly collection) or services (like cable access to MORE people who request it).

This all stinks (pun intended again).    :(
User avatar
husky
Member
Member
 
Posts: 19
Joined: Sun Oct 21, 2007 12:44 am

Re: The Smell of Garbage (Contracts) Never Goes Away

Postby Sal » Sat Mar 05, 2011 8:44 pm

Hi Joe good to hear from you.

We only put out a bag per week and $7.00 may be a little high for that but I see that people around here put out a lot more trash so it may be a good deal for them.  There were also discounts for seniors and people on disability but I don’t know what the current contract states.  I have argued many times for the town to put this type of information on its website.

Husky, you put a lot of good information about the antennas and it sure gets a lot of reads.
Regarding the trash deal, Newton originally negotiated an exclusive contract for residential curbside trash pickup for the entire town but there was no requirement for residents to use the services and it excluded business and farms that can use a servicer of their choice.  

As far as I know nothing has changed.  The servicer at the time was Waste Management and they only picked up trash from paying customers.  Newton has nothing to do with billing or collections.

We along with many others did not use the service and obviously did not pay.  About a year after the program started my wife decided that she wanted to have the service so I contacted WM and they wanted us to pay for services that we did not receive.  I protested and the matter was quickly resolved with us not having to pay for services that we did not receive.

The Town has been very good about handling trash pickup complaints.  I suggest that anyone that has a problem try to resolve it with the servicer because they are being paid for the service not the town.  If that does not work contact the Township building.  Or contact the Attorney General’s Office Bureau of Consumer Protection.  The office is in Scranton and you can file a complaint on line, by mail or fax.

I do not see how a servicer can charge for services that were not rendered.
Sal
Site Admin
Site Admin
 
Posts: 157
Joined: Mon Apr 05, 2004 2:10 pm
Location: Newton, PA


Return to What's Your Beef?

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 4 guests

cron