John G. O’Sullivan, Monmouth Junction
What “garbage” is the Democratic controlled South Brunswick Township Council recycling to the taxpayers? I was shocked and dismayed to read a newspaper story titled “Council cheats taxpayers on South Brunswick recycling deal.”
South Brunswick’s recycling contract is ready for renewal and was up for rebidding for a five-year contract. Republic Services, the current contractor, uses dual stream recycling, a method which requires residents to separate paper from other recyclables. The new bidder, Central Jersey, proposed single stream recycling, where residents co-mingle their recyclables. Single stream recycling is cheaper to operate than dual stream and is also easier for the resident.
Republic Services bid $10.6 million for the five-year term. Central Jersey bid $9.7 million, $900,000 less. What a wonderful opportunity to save almost $1 million.
The Council awarded the contract to Republic Services, the current service provider claiming that the other bidder would not provide the same level of service. Some concerns were voiced that the residents would find it difficult to adapt to a new system.
I do firmly believe that the citizens of South Brunswick can adapt to a new garbage pick-up system, especially when the new system saves them $900,000 in these hard economic times.
To err may be human, and to forgive may be divine, but it is going to be hard for the taxpayers to do so in this instance.
John G. O’Sullivan
Monmouth Junction
