Trash Collection Costs Have Skyrocketed!

Municipalities have seen astronomical increases in trash collection over the last several years and Palmyra is not immune unfortunately.

In December, the Borough of Palmyra, working with our professional trash consultant TrashPro, publicly bid a new trash collection contract with the current contract due to expire March 31st. Republic Services was again the low bidder, but our costs for regular curbside trash collection alone more than doubled!

That wasn’t even the worst news, however. Bulk trash collection came in an additional $100,000 (in previous years it was included with regular curbside services). Plus bulk collections are now much more limited in scope than in past years.

All in all, our trash collection expenses increased over $400,000 in 2023 alone.

We consider ourselves fortunate however, to have successfully negotiated and continue to offer bulk collections even with that more limited service, as many towns are simply foregoing bulk trash services due to the prohibitive costs. Sadly, some towns are just not picking up bulk any longer or even providing their residents with other options.

Palmyra, however, is taking the necessary steps to continue to provide these services, but with some changes necessary to reflect this new reality.

The most significant change is to BULK ITEMS.  Bulk items will be COLLECTED BY ZONE, BY APPOINTMENT ONLY and ONLY TWO (2) ITEMS will be permitted per residence per month.  You’ll be able to schedule your appointment online however, at boroughofpalmyra.com or by calling 856-829-8215 by 3:00 PM on Thursday before YOUR ASSIGNED BULK WEEK.

And THERE’S AN APP FOR THAT! Well, coming soon anyway; we’re also in development of an app for your phone that will enable you to schedule bulk pickup as well as provide other trash related information!

(More detailed information will be released very soon – check your mailbox and back here for updates over the coming weeks!)

In addition, our Department of Public Works will also be open every Wednesday evening from 3:00 PM to 7:00 PM and continue to be open every Saturday morning of course from 7:00 AM to 12:00 PM (except major holidays) to accept bulk (and regular trash, as well as brush and limbs).

But the biggest news; Palmyra is transitioning to self-performing trash collections beginning in several months! Yes, we purchased two new refuse trucks including a state-of-the-art semi-automated truck (with a side arm like the big boy’s use), and a more traditional rear-load truck with cart tippers, which will also assist in bulk collections. And we hired three new experienced CDL drivers to operate that equipment!

Not only will we save hundreds of thousands of dollars a year by going this route, but service will increase several-fold as a result. No more baloney with missed or late collections because we’ll be picking up trash in-house with our operators! There may be some learning curve of course, and the full transition will take some time, but we plan on starting in several neighborhoods this year with the first beginning in July! (Make sure to look for the pretty new trash trucks with the big Palmyra logo! Well, pretty for trash trucks anyway, lol!)

Thank you everyone for your continued cooperation and understanding and please check your mailbox and back here for more updates in the coming weeks!