Correction: On September 21 we incorrectly reported that Union City residents are currently paying $103 per quarter for garbage service. The correct amount is $118.50 per quarter. We are sorry for the error.
Union City Borough Council has approved a contract for garbage removal for borough citizens that will save them a few dollars.
The Erie Area Council of Governments put out a request for proposal (RFP) for bids for garbage collection. Council had the option of accepting one of EACOG’s bids or advertise its own RFP.
Council, during its Sept. 15 meeting, accepted a bid from EACOG for a three-year contract with Waste Management of Erie starting in January.
The contract is for weekly curbside collection, transport and disposal for a 10-bag limit and regular containers for set aside items of municipal waste. The contract includes disposal of recyclable materials.
The cost will be about $93 a quarter, as opposed to $118.50 a quarter borough residents are now paying for service from Tri-County Industries Inc. of Grove City.
Borough Manager Cindy Wells told council that sticking with the EACOG bid made the most financial sense.
“If we didn’t go with this contract, we’d have to advertise on our own, which comes with added costs,” Wells explained. “And there’s no guarantee we’d get a better price. Waste Management could come back higher the next time around, and we can’t go back to their original bid.”
Wells also noted that smaller haulers in the region were unable or unwilling to take on a borough-wide contract. Some cited requirements like performance bonds as a barrier, while others preferred to serve individual customers rather than municipalities.
The vote on the measure saw James Kerns as the lone no vote, with all other council members present voting yes. Matthew Joyce and Melissa Winkler were absent from the meeting.
The contract will run through 2028.
