Dive Brief:

• The council in Aldan, PA, awarded a five-year, $900,740 contract to Suburban Waste Services of Eddystone to provide trash removal service through Dec. 31, 2020, a slight increase over the current contract, according to Borough Solicitor Gary Seflin.
• The council also unanimously voted to reject all bids for the recycling program and to seek new bids to be opened at a caucus meeting Oct. 7, for a contract for 2016.
• Council President Harry Short noted, "This marks the 16th year with no trash removal fee increase."  Liens were filed against 27 property owners who failed to pay 2014 trash removal and sewer rental fees. Fourteen are making payments, and a lawsuit will be filed against the remaining 13.

Dive Insight:

Spikes in trash and recycling fees have caused concern among residents in many towns across the nation, which is why it's so admirable that Aldan has been able to keep trash fees consistent. The city of Chicago is currently in a heated debate over trash disposal increases, however it may be a necessary solution to help solve its $30 billion pension crisis. 

Other cities are doing as much as possible to keep trash disposal fees low. In Springfield, IL, the city council approved new rules that would restrict waste haulers from imposing trash and recycling fees without consent from the city. Additionally in Fort Collins, CO, city staff members would not present city council with a proposal that would have allowed trash haulers to charge a temporary fee to offset the cost of handling recyclables.