During Monday night's discussion at the Maplewood Township Committee meeting about the proposed pay-as-you-throw garbage hauling proposal — which purportedly would reduce costs for residents with less garbage, incentivize recycling, and potentially bring administration of garbage billing in-house — an interesting development came to light.

Mayor Vic DeLuca noted that Waste Industries had sent a memo indicating that the hauler would be willing to offer an alternative solution: Waste Industries would offer the pay-as-you-throw system to all Maplewood residents as well as the same system that is in place now. Waste Industries Vice President Glenn Cignarella wrote that the bulk program would be included; the grass program, as in the past, would be optional. 

Deputy Mayor Fred Profeta said he had received the letter but said that there were still questions unanswered: "We need to know how many homeowners they project will opt for the program to see if it's worthwhile."

Earlier Profeta had reported that, as a result of the special Oct. 24 informational meeting on the proposal, the Township Committee said "we ought to move about the business of getting specs for bid." Profeta said a special committee met to discuss the next steps, including the propriety of meeting with haulers before releasing the bid. Town Counsel Roger Desiderio said that such meetings were allowed "as long as we weren't putting out specs and getting a reaction."

Desiderio was also tasked with consulting with the state DEP to discover if there are any pertinent regulations limiting or affecting the town's powers related to the proposal. Profeta said the special committee was also tasked with inspecting specs for Chatham, N.J. where a pay-as-you-throw program is already in place.

Township Committee members also discussed the fact that the recycling contract will expire mid-year in 2012. Desiderio felt that changes to recycling with a new garbage hauler "could be worked through."

DeLuca said he "wanted to reiterate we're in the fact-finding mode. This is not a done deal. We're going to get all the information we need to in order to make an informed decision."

If you can't get enough trash talk, Environmental Advisory Committee member Bob McCoy will be at the DeHart Center tonight to explain and answer questions about the new garbage hauling proposal.