SANATOGA PA – Lower Pottsgrove officials know tons more about trash now than they did four months ago, and maybe even more than they ever wanted, following the recent release of results from a township residents’ survey. But they say they may also have gained new insight on ways to lower garbage collection costs, or at least keep them from rising too high too quickly.

Talkin’ trash – that is, answering the municipality’s March (2011) 21-question survey about refuse hauling services – turned out to be more popular among taxpayers than anyone might have guessed. More than 960 people replied, representing a 32-percent response rate. “We honestly did not expect that,” township Assistant Manager Alyson Elliott told the Board of Commissioners last week (Aug. 1).

More surprising, commissioners noted, was their depth of response. The compiled results create a booklet of 70 double-sided pages, with detailed comments on everything from the way garbage cans are handled (workers “break and we have to pay to replace them,” one author grumbled) to the size of recycling bins (“too small,” said another).

Most common, according to Elliott, were comments on cost. Respondents generally think Lower Pottsgrove’s garbage pick-up is too pricey. They seem to resent paying additional bills for the service, a change instituted in 2007.

Property owners now pay $142, or $71 semi-annually, for trash collection. A majority of those surveyed say a $100 price point is more reasonable; 24 percent are unwilling to pay more than $150; and a third want the entire cost included in their taxes even if it required a tax increase.

Beyond price:

• 65 percent of those surveyed claimed to be either satisfied or very satisfied with the service itself.
• Thirty-seven percent said they would use twice-weekly pick-up if it was offered, but most would prefer it at no added cost.
• A quarter want hauling of bulk items like appliances included in their trash service, rather than pay for it separately.
• Several supported a once-yearly bulk pick-up day, which they thought would be less costly.
• Respondents found curbside pick-up of Christmas trees and yard waste convenient, but many said they were will willing to drive five or fewer miles to a drop-off location, also if it would save money.
• Many want cardboard included as a recycling item.

The township questioned trash haulers, too, and learned it might save money by “making the waste removal day more flexible.” Haulers are uniformly busy at the start of a week – Mondays and Tuesdays, for example – but would be willing to re-examine their bids for a less worker-intensive day like Wednesday or Thursday.

Re-negotiation of Lower Pottsgrove’s five-year trash collection contract will start within the next two months, commissioners said. They survey gave them 12 different alternatives to discuss with providers.

Related:

• From Township Trash Survey, A Heap Of Interesting Ideas
• Township Didn’t Know You’d Have Trash On Your Mind
• Trash Talkin’: Township Wants Opinions On Messy Topic
• Lower Pottsgrove Seeks Suggestions In A Trash Survey

Related (to the Lower Pottsgrove Board of Commissioners’ meeting of Aug. 1):

• From Township Trash Survey, A Heap Of Interesting Ideas
• Commissioners Approve Tri-County Urologic Plans
• Five Township Corners Due For Curb, Signal Changes
• Sanatoga, Ringing Hill Busy With Volunteer Training
• Next Move On Keim Street Bridge Possible Next Week
• Several Report Interest In Township Planning Vacancy
• Army Band May Return, Thanks To Impressive Crowd
• Whack Away At Unsightly Weeds, Township Pleads
• July Tax Payments Trickle In At A Rate Of $528 Per Day
• Tax Settlements: An Awful Lot Of Paperwork To Net $677
• Lower Pottsgrove’s June 2011 Warrants Now Online
• Bridge, Guardrail Study Proposed For Pruss Hill Road
• Township 2009 Sex Offender Law ‘Might Not Stand Up’
• Commissioners OK KenCrest ‘Temporary’ Grenhouse
• Commissioners Gather For First August Meeting