Trash Bids Rejected In Tredyffrin: Supervisors

TREDYFFRIN, PA —Tredyffrin Township officials Monday night unanimously rejected all bids from trash haulers and agreed to revise the bid package.

The township decided to implement municipal trash collection following complaints from numerous residents about delayed pickup from private haulers. The residents complained that small animals could get in the garbage without a timely pickup.

The township received three bids by the Aug. 24 deadline. AJ Blosenski, Honey Brook, was the lowest bid at $9.6 million for three years. J.P Mascaro, Audubon, and Whitetail Services, Perkiomenville, also put in bids.

Two other companies, Opdenaker Trash and Recycling, Delaware County, and Waste Management Republic Services, King of Prussia, sent correspondence declining to bid.

Joe DiRocco, assistant township manager, said in a memo to the supervisors that the township recommends that a revised bid package go out based on additional feedback from the board, the residents, and the bidders.

The changes would include providing a level of service, start date, length of contract, and where opt-out is feasible.

After the revisions are made, the township will again request to advertise to receive bids for the collection and disposal of solid waste and recycling materials.

Supervisors react

Supervisor KS Bhaskar said rejecting the bids is the correct decision, complimenting the township for all of the work preparing the bid package.

"We need to get more bids," Matt Holt, board vice president, said.

Supervisor Sharon Humble suggested providing two pricing options, noting that smaller bins could be available for residents who have less trash.

Trash haulers react

Blosenski was a family company that was acquired by Waste Connections in September.

Blosenski recently sent a note to customers apologizing for service interruptions, noting the company is experiencing staff shortages.

Jim Clark, a Blosenski employee, asked the supervisors if he could be on the agenda next month to explain what happened recently with Blosenski. The supervisors did not immediately respond.

Paul Brady, president of Whitetail, said the bidding process was reasonable, and should not be redone.

"We put in a bid that is responsible," he said. "Why would you table it?"

He said the company is the lowest responsible bidder at $124 a quarter. "

Residents react

Several residents said Blosenski was doing a good job until the company was taken over by Waste Connections.

"I would keep them out of the bid," a resident suggested.

Arthur Zadrozny, a Chesterbrook resident, said he supports the supervisors' decision to put out a new big package, suggesting that a bill be issued for sewer and trash.