'Pay-for-Throw' Discussed by Borough on Monday

With the echo of last winter’s discontent still in their ears, the Council Public Works Committee reopened the issue of instituting a “pay-for-throw” trash program in 2012.

“I think we should look into this,” said committee member Sue Bayne.  “It could drop taxes, and it would allow us to fund some of our infrastructure repairs.”

Last winter, borough council proposed something similar, but backed down over resident outcry and instead decided to raise taxes.

“I think we have a unique opportunity here,” said committee member John Manion.  “But any new fee or program we institute is going to be perceived as a tax.”

According to borough manager Ernie McNeely a “pay-for-throw” program could bring in as much as $800,000.

The committee also discussed instituting a sticker program instead of last year’s much maligned bag program.

Basically, residents would pay a quarterly fee, and they would place stickers on top of the trash inside their cans marking it for disposal. 

“We wouldn’t change the current two cans and four bag policy,” Bayne said.  “But this would allow us to bring down taxes a point or two.”

“I’m on the fence with this,” said committee member Tom Paxson.  “I’m worried about the kind of feedback we’ll get, but we need to find ways to generate income.”

The committee made no final decisions, and they will discuss the issue again at next month’s meeting.

In order to institute a new trash policy, the committee would have to make a recommendation to council, and council would have to vote to approve that recommendation.