Now that its trash hauler has been sold, one member of East Greenville Council wants the municipality to get a jump on its next contract. On Monday, Melissa Leinbach urged her colleagues to begin preparing next year for a new agreement, even though its current agreement extends an additional year.

            "We need to figure out the next bid process," she said.  "Next year will be here before you know it."

            Borough Manager Jim Fry told the members that the next trash negotiation would likely look different regardless of the sale.

            Solicitor Michael Peters said future bid prices likely won't decrease.

            The sale of Whitetail Disposal to a company based in Vermont could complicate the borough's plans to approve a new contract. East Greenville's current contract with the business, headquartered at 334 Layfield Road in New Hanover, expires at the end of 2026.

            In May, council voted to extend the current contract by two years. Whitetail Disposal has collected trash in the municipality since the start of 2021.

            Leinbach said three months ago that residents will see an annual fee increase of approximately   $20 next year and an additional $22 the following year. She identified the current annual cost as $276.77.

            "We're not going to get cheaper prices," Leinbach said during the previous meeting.

            On Aug. 1, a trade publication announced the acquisition of two solid waste businesses in the Mid-Atlantic region by Casella Waste Systems Inc., of Rutland, VT. The transaction with LMR Disposal LLC, Phillipsburg, N.J. and Whitetail closed in July and August, respectively, according to an article posted on the "Waste Today" magazine's website.

            "We are very excited about the acquisitions of Whitetail and LMR as they represent continued execution against our disciplined growth strategy, further expanding our operations in the Mid-Atlantic where we are densifying and expanding operations," said  John W. Casella, board chair and CEO of the regional waste and recycling company, according to the article.

            "Both businesses fit nicely with our existing regional platform acquired last year and present us with additional growth opportunities."

            After the meeting, Fry said he felt fairly confident that trash removal service in the borough won't change in the immediate future. The manager first learned of the acquisition early last week and spoke with Whitetail Chief Operating Officer Paul Brady a day or two later.

            "We might see some changes over the years," Fry said after the meeting.

            Whitetail Disposal, which also serves Schwenksville Borough, generated more than $52 million in revenue in 2020, according to an Aug. 13, 2021 story in the trade magazine. It states that Mike Schmidt – who grew up the son of a dairy farmer – founded the business as a 20-year-old. The company has grown to 215 employees and boasts a fleet of 195 vehicles.

            In other news, the members also discussed what to do with a dumpster located at the borough's police station. Since, the dumpster's previous owner, Paper Retriever, has gone out of business, the borough will move it to the borough's maintenance shop, according to Fry.

            From there, the municipality will decide what to do with the dumpster. The manager said he would contact Whitetail Disposal about taking ownership.

            Member Angie Fegely suggested keeping it and using it in the borough.

            Council met in executive session immediately prior to Monday's meeting, according to President Douglas Criddle. He said they met to consider legal matters.

            In July, the Borough of East Greenville Police Department responded to 124 total incidents. They include 31 for traffic, 16 for public services and 11 for parking. Its officers made 10 assists, responded to five accidents, two incidents each of fraud and fire and served one warrant, according to information posted on the bulletin board outside the meeting room at Borough Hall.

            The information, collected by Chief Randy Morris, includes 46 incidents categorized as "other." A note on the document states it does not include active investigations.