Politics & Government
Plum Hires New Waste Collector
Council voted to award waste collection services to Allied Waste Management of Scottdale, a move which council members say presents a significant savings to the borough while improving service.
Plum has a new trash collector that council says will present a significant savings to the borough.
Plum Council voted unanimously at its Monday meeting to award a contract to Allied Waste Management of Scottdale for garbage and recyclable collection.
One council member, Charles McMeekin, was absent.
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The cost for the services presents a $1.2 million savings over five years to the borough, council members said.
“For $1.2 million on an $11 million budget, that’s a pretty big savings,” council president Mike Doyle said.
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The contract will run from June 2011 to May 2015 with an option to extend for one year.
The average fee to residents will be $16 per month with senior citizens being charged a discounted fee of $13.67 per month council member Michael Dell said.
“The cost per resident will stay the same for the next four years,” Dell said.
Overall, the pickup schedule proposed by the company along with its added recycling options helped council to decide to award the bid to Allied Waste Management, he said.
Allied Waste Management will operate more often and each neighborhood in the borough will have its own trash pickup day, Dell said.
The company will take all cardboard, paper, and plastic recyclables. Residents will only need to use one bin to collect all the items.
John McGoran, manager of municipal services at Allied Waste Management, said that residents will be provided with new 95-gallon bins for recyclables.
Allied Waste Management will provide weekly pickup of recyclable items as well as trash. It will also pick up one bulky item per week and additional bulky items each week for $10 per item.
McGorn said the charge isn’t designed to be a moneymaker for the company.
“We try to prevent someone from moving and putting their entire house on the curb,” he said. “It’s to not inhibit the driver from progressing on his route.”
He cited examples of bulky items including couches, sinks, and large television sets.
Recycling services in the borough will be doubled, McGoran said. Recycling as a weekly service will begin June 1.
The borough received a total of three bids for waste removal services.
Allied Waste Management is no stranger to the area. The company provides sanitation services to Oakmont, Murrysville, and Penn Hills, McGoran said.
