THIS PETITION IS TO CHANGE GILBERTSVILLE- DOUGLASS TOWNSHIP’S CURRENT PAY AS YOU THROW TRASH/RECYCLING PROGRAM.

The township’s current pay as throw program that consists of buying orange township garbage bags is not an efficient trash disposal system.

We, the undersigned, want to petition the township to switch to a regular, orange bag free, weekly curbside trash program with bulk pickup included that the residents will be responsible to pay for on a monthly or quarterly basis or for each resident to be able to privately hire a waste disposal company of their choice.

Listed below are valid points to consider. 

-The durability of the orange trash bags has greatly decreased causing them to rip apart before reaching the max weight limit. Residents are using twice as many bags or rebagging because of this which in return increases the amount they spend on trash disposal.

-More bags create more unnecessary waste. It’s difficult to understand why the township would want to put more plastic bags in landfills. We should strive as a community to create as minimal waste as possible. 

- At $2.80 per bag, then having to buy bulk stickers for $10, the affordability of this program for an average family is questionable. Most homes will produce 2+ bags a week, and even more since the quality of the bags is compromised. Buying these bags and bulk stickers is time consuming, costly and inconvenient. Not everyone is available during the township’s hours of operation to purchase bulk stickers. It would be more affordable, efficient and economical to have a regular trash program. 

- More residents would recycle with a regular trash program. The recycling center is open very minimal hours. Not all residents are able to haul their cardboard and yard waste to the recycling center. It is outrageously inconvenient. These things should be picked up by a regular curb side trash program. Because of this inconvenience, many residents are putting otherwise recyclable paper and waste into the orange bags with non-recyclables.

- Surrounding towns have switched to regular trash programs, why should our township be left behind? Douglass township likes to brag that they have the highest recycling rate in Montgomery County because of the pay as you throw program. They say we pay less than our surrounding towns for trash disposal, which may be true for some residents-especially elders, but most are not recycling to their full potential and myself, like many other residents, are hauling trash to friends and family in other towns and counties to dispose of or paying hundreds for dumpsters or bagsters to get rid of bulk items or grass clippings. This needs to change and improve.

In conclusion, the undersigned are in support of changing the current trash and recycling program. We, as a community, need to come together and make changes that will positively impact the environment and our daily lives. Trash disposal and recycling should not cause frustration and stress among the residents. We need to update and improve the current trash program that may have worked well in the past but is not as effective anymore since Gilbertsville - Douglass Township, PA is a continuously growing and thriving community.