Warminster Supervisors Are 'Fed Up' With J.P. Mascaro Service: Read The Details

WARMINSTER, PA — It doesn't feel like much of an exaggeration to say that trash has been the talk of the town in Warminster this summer.

Now, the Board of Supervisors has spoken up. Chairman Kenneth Hayes announced to residents Friday that town supervisors have directed the Township Manager to "use all available resources" for yard waste cleanup in an effort to rectify a situation he says is becoming "a health emergency."

Hayes said supervisors might also pursue "fines, performance bond options, and a variety of litigation steps" against the company who let sanitation services flag.

J.P. Mascaro & Sons — the company contracted by Warminster since December of 2018 to provide trash, recycling, and yard waste collection services — has sent announcements almost every week this summer that trash and recycling pick up would be delayed. Recently, Mascaro has encouraged residents to leave waste out all week until their trucks can come collect.

"The decomposing yard waste and eyesore of trash receptacles on the street seven days a week is inexcusable and unacceptable," Hayes wrote Friday. "Other waste haulers are struggling as well, but when speaking with other townships that are not using Mascaro, they appear to be faring much better."

Mascaro has continuously cited labor shortages in the waste collection industry as the reason for their lacking service. An article from Business Insider in August — titled "The labor shortage means nobody wants to pick up your trash" — pointed to serious labor deficits in sanitation and public works. Some theories they present: People are retiring, switching careers, or growing frustrated with low wages during the pandemic.

"CDL drivers, mechanics, and technicians are in high demand," Pasquale Mascaro, Sr. wrote to residents in June. "COVID-19 has caused some of these labor problems, as has the government's COVID-related efforts."

Hayes said the township's problems with Mascaro have now been ongoing for more than a year. In 2020, Warminster threatened Mascaro with fines for not fulfilling the services they were contracted to provide.

"Mascaro responded with slightly better service; however, that slowly eroded away, and we are now left with a situation that worsens every day," Hayes wrote.

He said Mascaro's operations manager and general counsel submitted a contingency plan to the board in June, but that "as we all can see when driving through the township, they have not executed that plan." Supervisors expect Mascaro to put all possible resources into Warminster "to alleviate what is turning into a health emergency."

The supervisors' steps to rectify the situation began with allowing Mascaro to modify collection times and collection methods, in order to remove accumulated trash and yard waste as quickly as possible. Hayes said this solution "had minor impact on the problem."

When the township attempted to contract with other haulers "as emergency contingency," Hayes said all declined as their services are stretched too thin.

Now, the township will assume the responsibility of picking up yard waste, which supervisors hope will "free up Mascaro's resources to get current with trash and recycling."

Hayes reminded residents that supervisors live in the township, too, and are "fed up" with watching waste accumulate in front of Warminster homes which include their own.

"Our staff is working tirelessly to resolve the situation, and we will continue to until we resolve the problem," Hayes wrote. "We are also tracking all costs associated with this for future corrective action."

Patch could not immediately reach representatives from J.P. Mascaro & Sons for comment on Monday.

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