Mar 20, 2017 By Luke Campbell 2 min read

Mt. Lebanon commissioners have decided to throw away their proposed pay-as-you-throw garbage program.

After months of lengthy discussions and considerations on how to improve the trash collection process in the township when the current contract expires at the end of 2018, the commissioners decided at their March 14 meeting to continue a standard resolution with the South Hills Area Council of Governments, or SHACOG, to continue participating in a joint-bid process that would begin in 2019.

It does not obligate the municipality to accept any of the proposals received, according to municipal manager Keith McGill.

The decision made by the commission followed analysis from a committee, headed by assistant manager Ian McMeans, who described the impact on the goal discussed over the past few years of reducing recycling.

“This decision was made by the commission after discussions on the financial impacts of pay as you throw on the residents of the community,” McMeans said. “There was variety of feedback the commission received from the residents, both for and against altering the way solid waste is collected.”

The pay-as-you-throw system would have charged residents based on the amount of solid waste they throw out, rather than the current format of being charged for garbage collection and recycling through their property tax.

Commissioners admitted there wasn’t a public outcry for the pay-as-you-throw program, but more interest simply in having a heightened presence of recycling capabilities.

“The commissioners as a group received feedback at public meetings from residents,” McMeans said.

After which, efforts were made by the committee to garner more information about understanding the community’s goal for the trash-collection process.

“A number of commissioners made reference to receiving additional feedback from constituents of their wards,” McMeans said.