First, this is nothing more than a hidden tax that will be placed ONLY on residents and will hurt different segments of the community. If you need money to balance the budget, assess everyone not just people living in homes, many of whom struggle to live there already.

Second, there is no guarantee that it will cost every homeowner less.

Third, government shouldn't be putting small businesses (the independent haulers) in jeopardy of going out of business. The free market system works and government should stay out of it.

Finally, claiming you need $500,000 in the general fund to prop up the recycling program only convinces me that the proposal to privatize the compost/mulch operation is appropriate and they need to streamline recycling, and maybe that should be privatized as well. Residents already are paying $60 annually on their water/sewer bills toward the recycling program. How much more do they need and is it for recycling or elsewhere.

Way too many questions and uncertainties in this budget and particularly with trash hauling and recycling.

I am less inclined to follow any recommendation hook, line, and sinker, when made by the Doober Dolan (yes, your ex students know you!) who has NEVER OPERATED IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR. She is an indictment of the local electorate who seems to like to elect, bereft of common sense, school teachers from the public sector. Her politics are blubberingly emotional without a clue. Was there an analysis here? Doubtful. Emotes don't think, they react to their guttural tendencies. Dolan would not know how to do an objective, reasoned, logical analysis if her supply of substance depended on it!

I am very happy with the business relationship I have with my trash hauler. I am quite sure this will be lost in a single hauler system. Presently I can negotiate with my hauler when I need to dispose of excessive material. I doubt I will be able to do so in a single hauler system. Finally the blatant disrespect for these individual business owners (trash haulers) is sad.

Under the current system, if my trash hauler does a poor job, I am free to find another, and to negotiate on price as well. Under a system with one hauler, there would be little incentive to provide excellent service. It seems like a step backward.

And you can bet that the contract would be awarded to one of the major corporate trash haulers. Another step in the wrong direction.

Life is good or at least better if you know a dependable plumber and that goes for your trash hauler as well . Have you ever noticed news stories about trash piling up at the curb in major metropolitan areas when there's a work stoppage . I know, we'll get assurances that won't happen , but it will and life will get ugly very quickly . Isn't there enough government in our life already ?

Single hauler has merits. Better for environment, less trucks on road. Most likely cheaper (I know the per bag payer may see an increase, but most people who pay $25-30 per month would see a decrease) The City would be a bulk buyer and could get the best rates in a competitive bid scenario.
The "little guy" is not always so little. Many of this little guys are commonly owned. I know there are exceptions, but I know East Penn Sanitation bought my little guy earlier this year.
Single hauler would probably give more service than most currently have.

One of the local independent haulers who was present at last night's meeting told me that he can beat the estimated cost on contract hauling. And, at least the profit goes into supporting a small business, its employees, and its local suppliers (think gas, oil and other materials that the local haulers buy here).

City council shouldn't even think about voting on this . A question such as this should be decided by the voters . To do otherwise should alert us all that the city government wouldn't like the result . Look elsewhere for revenue .

"It's not our job to keep one particular group of small businesses in business," Dolan said.

So what is your job, then? Put them out of business?

In my family we are very careful about what we actually throw in the garbage. We are heavey recyclers, we compost and use the garbage disposal. The only time we throw something in the garbage can is if it can not be disposed of in one of these three ways first. As a result we throw out one 30 gallon bag of trash every 3-4 weeks at a cost of $5. Which means we spend well under $100 a year on trash removal. I hardly think the city can do better than that.

I don't live in Bethlehem City anymore. We moved to the township 3 years ago. Yet, a single trash hauler for the city will have a domino effect for us here in the outskirts. Once the private contractors lose all their customers in Bethlehem proper, they'll have to raise rates to make up the difference, prompting the township to possibly seek a similar solution.Of course, if city government doesn't care how dumb this idea is within their own boundaries, why should they care how it affects everyone else?

Jim,
He does beat it. That's why he told me, and that's why I bothered to post it. Just spoke with another homeowner who pays $5/bag and only needs pick-up every 3rd or 4th week. That amounts to $65/year plus the $60 annual recycling fees. I'd say $125 beats $280, and of the well over 100 homeowners from all over the city that I've spoken with not one wants to give up their private haulers. They pretty much see it for what it is; a money making scheme to skim $500,000 off of the top and place it in the 2013 budget.

City Council will review the single hauler issue amongst other issues at its Tuesday, November 27 budget hearing, which begins at 6:00 PM. It will be held in Town hall. Be prepared for some hot air.

Dolan's diatribe was a pathetic left wing liberal CO2 speech wherein her solution to everything is a one size fits all approach. The fallacy in the city single hauler system is the assumption that all people need the same services. Some people only need to put garbage out once every 2 weeks, some every 3 weeks as posted above. Some residents leave for the winter and don't need pickup at all while they are gone and the city system will likely not recognize the individual varying needs of the residents.

The worst thing is that Dolan and Reynolds don't want to hear from the citizens as they already know what's best for them.

Letting the govt. manage our trash hauling is a horrible idea. They admit they have a shortfall now. Why in the world would we give them more money and responsibility to play with?

If recycling pick up is any indication of how trash hauling would work get that compost heap ready in your back yard because that is where you may have to go with it for the weeks there is miss pick up.

Funny, Rudy or whoever you are, you have no idea what you are talking about. When I was with the city I was a huge proponent of ZONED TRASH COLLECTION using the current system of independent haulers. I made sure that they were all included in our planning sessions as we worked to try to accomplish that. Unfortunately since I left, the independent haulers have not been part of any process. And, if you will remember, the administration did bring zoned collection before City Council several years ago and was not well prepared to respond to Council's questions. And, as a matter of fact I did get up at that Council meeting and endorse the zoned collection eforts. This had absolutely nothing to do with engaging a single hauler.

So, Rudy, before you promote your inaccurate commentary, you need to do a fact check on the issue.

As for my so-called "boxing career," that's a fair shot, but not germaine to the this issue at all.

No matter what the past holds, Dana, you are correct now. And for me that's all that really matters. Single hauling services as contracted by city govt. are not a good idea. Period. And property owning residents who will pay for whatever system we have need to be heard. We've been here before. We WANT our individual haulers. We want a choice.

I hope that the person who duct taped signs to many of the telephone poles in the historic district about the upcoming city council meeting on the trash hauling issue is as diligent about removing the signs following the meeting.

Let's assume they will!