3 A-K Valley communities seek joint trash-hauling contract

Refuse-hauling contractors got an extra week to submit proposals for a joint contract covering Cheswick, Springdale and Springdale Township.

Contractors have until 3 p.m. Thursday to submit bids, according to Springdale Township Solicitor Craig Alexander. Bids will be opened Monday.

The communities have contracts that expire at the end of this year. The municipalities decided to seek bids for a new joint contract in the hope of getting a better deal and appealing to more contractors.

William “Red” McElligott, manager of Springdale Township, said the township and Cheswick have a joint contract with Vogel Diposal Service.

McElligott said officials were surprised by the interest shown by refuse haulers.

He said six companies — Bankosh, Vogel, Shank, Noble, Republic and Phil/It/Up — expressed interest in submitting bids.

“It’s looking pretty competitive, which is good for us,” Springdale Township Commissioners Chairman Rick Schwartz said. “You have a lot of municipalities who did not even get bids.”

Schwartz and McElligott said the communities were more than willing to provide more time.

“We want as good a deal as we can get, and they want more time to fine-tune their bids,” Schwartz said.