5/31/2012 - South Side Leader
     

COVENTRY — Coventry officials need residents to follow a few steps before the township-wide trash and recycling aggregation kicks off next month.

The trustees have called the new program a “win-win” for the community but said everyone must join to accomplish the goal, a successful aggregation that creates significant savings for all.

Last month, the trustees signed a five-year agreement with Republic Services for trash pickup in the township, beginning July 1. The township is piggybacking on the waste-hauling contract with Republic that was adopted late last year by New Franklin. According to Coventry officials, the township’s 4,800 households now have the same trash-service options and prices that are available to the 6,000 households in New Franklin.

Trustee David Calderone said Coventry residents must sign up for the service plan that best suits their needs as soon as possible. Residents who fail to select a service level before July 1 automatically will be enrolled in the unlimited service plan, he explained.

According to township information being circulated on the aggregation, the unlimited plan will cost a Coventry homeowner $11.20 per month. Residents with unlimited service will receive a quarterly bill for $33.60, the information shows. Residents with a limited amount of trash may select the limited service plan for $9.95 a month or the bag service plan for $2.12 a month, plus $1.35 per bag of trash put out at the curb. Calderone said curbside recycling is included in all the service levels.

For more information on the trash plans, including a back door pick-up option, and to enroll for service, residents should contact Republic between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Mondays through Fridays at 800-247-3644, he said.

Current Republic customers need to call and ask to be enrolled in the “Coventry Township trash aggregation program,” Calderone explained. Those who currently use a trash hauler other than Republic must call to cancel their service. If not, residents may be billed by both parties, he said.

According to Calderone, Republic will begin dropping off new trash and recycling containers to all residents the week of June 11. On July 1, Republic will begin collecting on Mondays and Wednesdays in the township. The trustees are sending out information so each resident will know which day his or her trash will be picked up. Calderone said residents must have their trash and recyclables out at the curb by 6 a.m. on their specified collection day.

According to the trustees, the program is worth the little bit of work residents must do to help get it started smoothly.

Board of Trustees Chairman Tom Seese said the average homeowner currently pays about $22 a month for trash pickup, so residents have the opportunity to cut their bill by about 50 percent.

“By designating a single trash hauler for the entire township, we get a greatly reduced rate,” he said.

Seese said a single trash hauler also would reduce the “wear and tear” on the township’s 54 miles of roads and improve neighborhoods by lessening the noise of daily garbage truck traffic in the community.

In addition, residents now have the opportunity to recycle and “help save the environment,” he said.

The trustees said they are thankful to New Franklin for allowing the township to join the contract they currently have with Republic so a savings could be passed on to the residents of Coventry, as well.

According to Seese, Coventry residents have been requesting trash aggregation and are anxious for the program to get started in a few weeks.

The trustees encourage residents with questions regarding the new program to contact them. Seese can be reached by phone at 330-644-7475 or email at Seese@coventrytownship.com. To reach Calderone, call 330-730-9843 or email him at Calderone@coventrytownship.com. Contact Trustee Gary Zoldesy at 330-245-1669 or at Zoldesy@coventrytownship.com.

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