Dive Summary:

• In an effort to reduce waste services costs, Easton, Pennsylvania is implementing a new system that it hopes will end rising collection costs and put it in the position to create revenue.
• The town separated its next waste contract into landfill disposal costs, hauling fees and sales from recycling; the town is accepting bids for services, with the new contracts beginning on January 1, 2014.
• Easton’s current $16.6 million contract with New Jersey company Raritan Valley Disposal expires this year.

From the article:

…trash haulers will bid to serve Easton's 8,000 individual customers. The new contract calls for the same rotating schedule of collection, and the hauler will also pick up recycling.

Finance Director Chris Heagele said the former deal consisted of 3 percent rate hikes in the first several years of the contract and escalated to 10 percent hikes in the final two years — costs the city has absorbed instead of passing on to residents.

City Public Works Director Dave Hopkins plans to submit contracts for the first two pieces to City Council next week. Bids for the hauling portion… will be opened Sept. 6. The disposal contract was open to any landfill within 25 miles of the city...