Uniontown trash collection rates to decrease
Four-year contract also reduces recycling fees
Uniontown residents will be paying less for their trash and recycling collection.
City Council approved a four-year contract with County Hauling of Belle Vernon for both services at its monthly meeting Thursday night.
Starting Oct. 1, residents under 62 years old will pay $22 a month for garbage pickup, plus $1.75 for recycling, down from the current rates, $26.50 per month and $2.50 per month, respectively. Over the three-month billing period, their bills will go down $15.75.
Seniors will pay the same recycling fee and $15.40 per month for trash collection. Their discount was increased from 20% to 30%, giving them a decrease on their quarterly bills of $19.65.
“Through a number of negotiations with the garbage contractor, we came up with a really nice deal,” Mayor Bill Gerke said. “They were very cordial to us.”
After a price increase three years ago when the previous contract was extended, the number of people who couldn’t keep up with payments rose dramatically, Gerke said. A page on the city website listed 606 delinquent accounts.
Magistrate Jason Cox, city Code Enforcement Officer Jamle Waligura and others at City Hall came together to address the issue, Gerke said.
“We had a plan on how we can get people paying the delinquent accounts and get people paying,” he said. “Our goal was we wanted the price to come down.”
Gerke said residents who do not have recycling cans can call the city at 724-430-2900 to have one delivered to their house.
In response to resident complaints about County Hauling failing to pick up recycling, Waligura said anyone who has problems should contact her.
“Usually they’re very good with me,” she said. “When I ask them to do something, they try and do it within 24 hours.”
Later in the meeting, Waligura said she would be sending 300 citations next week to residents who had not put their trash inside a garbage can. People will have five days to respond to her before she issues a violation, which carries a $50 fine.
“I’ve been very lenient because I know people, I know that our economy is bad right now,” she said. “But reach out to me. I will try and do my best to help you.”