New Payment System For Garbage Collection Approved In Chester

CHESTER, NJ — Chester Township has established a new municipal utility to serve as the garbage payment mechanism, altering the way residents pay for their garbage collection.

Residents in Chester Township will now receive an annual garbage collection bill in the mail in the amount of $400. Officials anticipate that the final calculation and cost will be available very soon.

This bill is mandatory, regardless of how residents previously or currently dispose of their garbage.

Mayor Mike Inganamort previously stated that the council would be implementing a fee reduction for veterans and senior citizens. Residents who qualify for the senior property tax freeze and provide proof of eligibility will receive a total discount of $25. Residents who are veterans of the armed forces or their surviving spouses will receive a total discount of $25.

If someone is able to meet both requirements, they are eligible for both discounts, the council said.

Read related: Payment Changes For Trash Collection Discussed By Chester Council

Residents should expect to receive their garbage utility bill in March 2023. Once the bill is received, residents can pay the entire amount in one lump sum or in two equal installments of $200, the council said.

Payment deadlines will be Apr. 1, 2023, with a 10-day grace period, and Oct. 1, 2023, with a 10-day grace period.

Despite the change in payment method, the council emphasizes that the garbage collection schedule will not change. All garbage collection will continue to take place on Wednesdays, with residents still able to have one bulky item picked up for free.

Recycling will still be collected on Fridays.

"The council explored and ultimately decided to create a municipal utility for the purpose of directly billing residents for garbage collection. Doing so takes the cost of garbage collection out of the municipal budget and puts us back in the range of getting under the two percent property tax cap," Inganamort said.

This new system is also used in Chester Borough, Inganamort said.

If you still have extra garbage stickers, you can get a refund in one of two ways:

• Bring them to Town Hall during regular business hours and get a cash refund,
• Mail your sticker sheets (whole sheets only) to Blue Diamond at the address on the stickers and get a refund check.
• Residents will have 150 days, or until July 28th, to request a refund beginning Mar. 1.