New Kensington Council has decided to keep its garbage hauler for at least another year.

Council approved a one-year contract for garbage service with County Hauling with options for two additional years.

The quarterly charge to residents will remain $78.13.

According to City Clerk Dennis Scarpiniti, County Hauling submitted the lower of two bids at $156 per ton for 2021. For 2020, the per-ton rate had been $157.

The only other bid, from Waste Management, the city’s prior hauler, was almost 10% higher, about $171 per ton, in the first year.

County Hauling’s price would increase to $157.50 per ton in a second year and $159 in a third year; Waste Management’s second and third year per-ton rates were almost $179 and $187, respectively.

Earlier this year, council members expressed concern about the service provided by County Hauling, citing complaints from residents across the city. Councilman Todd Mentecki said residents would be willing to pay more for better service.

But in comparing the rates from County Hauling and Waste Management over three years and assuming a collection of 5,780 tons, Mentecki said he could not justify an extra cost to the city and its taxpayers of more than $371,000.

“If it was $3,000, we might have an argument,” he said.

Ro Rozier, a spokeswoman for County Hauling, said the company “is excited to continue to serve the residents of New Kensington for a second year.

“We appreciate everyone’s patience as we learned the routes in the midst of a pandemic,” she said. “We will continue to work together to deliver top-notch service.”

While the city had problems with County Hauling earlier this year, Mentecki said the company was doing much better in recent months and going back for pickups that were missed.

Mentecki said he would ask the company to be neater and more professional and said residents with any problems should contact city hall.

“We’ll continue to work closely with them,” he said.

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