By: centraljersey.com
WEST AMWELL – Mayor Thomas Molnar said the purchase of a used garbage truck could eventually save the township about $50,000 by allowing West Amwell to eliminate its garbage-hauling contract with Central Jersey Waste.
Even more could have been saved if a deal to purchase a used truck for recycling had gone through. Instead, the deal fell through, he said.
The Township Committee agreed earlier this month to authorize a $70,000 expenditure for the purchases. The used trash truck is expected to cost about $45,000, the mayor said. Several Dumpsters are expected to be purchased as well.
The used recycling truck was expected to cost less than $10,000, Mayor Molnar said.
Factoring in tipping fees the mayor estimated at about $30,000, and pay for employees who oversee the weekly trash drop-off at the township building on Rocktown-Lambertville Road, the township should be able to break even the first year, the mayor said. The following year the township could save about $50,000 by owning its own trash truck, he said.
Currently West Amwell charges residents $75 for six months of trash service, but residents have to drop off their garbage at the township site. A truck from Central Jersey Waste is there to collect it.
The township’s $91,000 contract with Central Jersey Waste expires in December.
The township hopes to have its own truck up and running this fall, the mayor said.
Mayor Molnar said he was disappointed that the deal to purchase a truck for recyclables had fallen through. It had been in the works for six months with Hampton, when abruptly their governing body voted against the sale.
"It upset me greatly because we went and looked, we were e-mailing back and forth," Mayor Molnar said. "There was no forewarning it was not for sale."
West Amwell is using Lambertville’s recycling truck until the township buys its own.

