Update on the Trash Task Force
Members from our community have volunteered to form a Trash Task Force to investigate options and alternatives for trash collection and disposal, composting and recycling services in the Township. A few reasons for assembling the Task Force include:
1. Under State law, once the Township reaches 5,000 residents, it must have mandatory recycling and composting.
2. For a number of years, residents have been complaining about the noise and pollution caused by having multiple haulers in their neighborhoods each week.
3. The Sustainability Plan recommends that comprehensive recycling and composting efforts be undertaken and that the carbon emissions generated by vehicles of all kinds be reduced.
4. Residents have also suggested that rates might be cheaper if the Township was served by a limited number of haulers.
After discussing the issues at a number of public meetings, the Board of Supervisors decided to form the Task Force and solicit residents to volunteer to be on it. The Board has appointed 12 residents from around the Township to the Task Force. The Task Force will investigate the various options that are available to the Township and the wishes of our residents and will make recommendations to the Board about what steps the Township should take to address the concerns outlined above and any other concerns of Township residents regarding this issue.
The Task Force has been compiling information regarding what other municipalities in Chester County are doing for trash, recycling and composting. The members have also analyzed the applicable State law requiring recycling and composting. The Task Force recently distributed a survey to haulers who service the Township. Three haulers responded to the survey and two appeared at the November 28th meeting to answer a series of questions presented by the Task Force. The haulers have offered to appear before the Task Force again if requested. It should be understood that the Task Force begins its work with no preconceived outcomes of any kind.
The Board of Supervisors wishes to thank the volunteers for exploring these important issues. The input of the Task Force will be considered by the Board before it makes any decisions on how the residents of the Township can best be served.
There is no scheduled meetings planned for December, but future meetings are scheduled at 7:00 pm on the fourth Thursday's of the month in 2013. The next meeting will be Thursday, January 24th at 7:00 P.M. in the Township Building. The meetings are open to the public and all residents are encouraged to attend.
