The board of the Greater Lebanon Refuse Authority recently approved its 2025 budget, which called for keeping tipping fees — or what trash haulers pay to dispose of waste — at $72 per ton.
Operations revenues in 2025 are estimated at almost $9.3 million, down from what was budgeted in 2024. GLRA executive director Robert “Skip” Garner attributed the decrease to improved recycling and reuse by commercial customers.
The budget also includes additional revenues of almost $2.6 million from sources including rental income and the sale of carbon credits related to methane that GLRA harnesses from its landfills to produce electricity. GLRA’s total revenues in 2025 are projected to be $11,879,481.
Total expenses are projected at almost $10.8 million, with landfill operations accounting for $3.6 million. Included in the budget is the purchase of a new trash compactor with a price tag of $1.1 million. GLRA is trading in its current compactor for $260,000, Garner said.
Garner also reported that year-to-date revenue from waste receipts is 3.3 percent below budget. The volume of waste delivered in November was 104 tons less than what was delivered in November 2023.
Expenditures for November and the year also are below budget, Garner said.
Recycling coordinator Amy Mazzella di Bosco reported that year-to-date, GLRA has collected 158 tons of electronics for recycling. This includes filling a 50-pound box with batteries every other day.
GLRA will recycle residents’ Christmas trees for free from Dec. 26 to Feb. 15, she added.
The board re-elected the following officers for 2025: John Poff, Lebanon Township, chair; Bonnie Grumbine, North Lebanon Township, vice chair; Cliff Berger, Bethel Township, treasurer; Charles Olt, South Londonderry Township, assistant treasurer; Brent McFeaters, North Annville Township, secretary; and LuAnn Horn, West Lebanon Township, assistant secretary.
In other business, the board:
- Approved a contract with PennPrime for the Authority’s property, liability, and general coverages at a cost of $161,724;
- Approved annual contributions of $300 to the three fire companies that typically respond to the landfill’s emergency calls;
- Reduced a penalty assessed to X/S Waste Transport, which had been investigated for comingling waste and recycling in a township with mandated recycling. The penalty was halved from $4,000 to $2,000;
- Recognized employee Trevor Jose, lead equipment operator.
The board of the Greater Lebanon Refuse Authority meets at 1800 Russell Road. The next meeting will be at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 7. Meetings are open to the public and do not require registration.
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