South Jersey Towns Look For Bigger, Better Trash Deal
CHERRY HILL, NJ (CBS) - Six months after three South Jersey towns announced a deal to combine their trash collection, they're back, along with a fourth, looking to get a joint contract for trash disposal.
In the eyes of Gloucester Township Mayor David Mayer, it's all about saving money, pure and simple. "We started out several months ago looking at the collection side of our trash costs," Mayer said. "And now we're looking at the disposal side of that."
Last fall, Cherry Hill joined with Gloucester Township and Merchantville to cut their collection costs by some $3 million (see related story). Now, along with Voorhees, the search is on for a multi-year conrtract for getting rid of the tens of thousands of tons of refuse they produce every year.
Cherry Hill Mayor Bernie Platt (pictured, at podium) said the four municipalities represent about a third of Camden County's residents, "That's a lot of business and we're here to send a message. If you want that business, you'd better bring down your costs."
Costs for disposal average about $65 a ton. Voorhees will continue to collect it's own trash until the current multi-town deal expires at the end of 2015.
Reported by David Madden, KYW Newsradio 1060
