Changes Coming for Plum Trash Collection

It’s out with the old and in with the new as the borough prepares for the switch to Allied Waste Management.

Among these preparations are the proposed writing of new recycling and solid waste ordinances, the display of new recycling bins at the borough building and ongoing discussion over how to handle recycling in the borough’s public parks.

“Most likely, there are going to be some hiccups with this transfer,” council president Mike Doyle said, adding that the borough has to educate residents and let them know about the changes.

Council plans to provide more information at upcoming meetings and on Channel 19.

The new ordinances are proposed to reflect the changes that Allied Waste will bring to the borough’s waste collection services, officials said. 

Among these changes are recycling services going from biweekly to weekly and including a single stream method—which means all recyclable materials, including cardboard, paper, glass, and metal, would be collected in a single container.

Other changes that would impact the current ordinances are the allowance of one bulky item for pick up per week at no charge, with additional items requiring a $10 fee, and the change from a single day collection to five days of collection throughout the borough.

Officials proposed to have the new ordinances written by the end of this week and to adopt the changes in June.

Council also plans to have the three sizes of recycling bins on display at the borough building so residents can decide whether they need a 32-gallon, 65-gallon or 96-gallon bin. They can then call Allied Waste to let the company know.  

The new bins won’t be available until October. Until then, borough residents will use their existing bins.

Council members also continued to discuss whether recycling bins should be placed in parks around the borough.

"We think it's an excellent idea—there's a lot of recyclables getting lost in the landfill," borough manager Michael Thomas said. "We're still trying to work it out."