Hampton Township picks Vogal Disposal for residential waste contract; staff projects lower rates and multi-year savings

Hampton Township Council voted unanimously to award base bid 2 for residential solid waste and recycling service to Vogal Disposal Services, Inc. for a five-year term starting Jan. 1, 2027, with an option for a five-year extension.

Township staff presented the April 8 bid results and recommended Vogal as the apparent low bidder. Staff told the council the contract assumes automated collection with new carts provided at contract start (a 96-gallon cart for garbage and a 64-gallon cart for recycling), lease options for up to two additional carts, and quarterly electronic and household hazardous waste collections. The presenter said the township’s current base rate with Waste Management is $39.51 per unit; Vogal’s bid would start at about $30.35 in 2027, producing a projected five-year per-household savings of approximately $418.32.

Staff explained how the bid was calculated (annual base rates multiplied by the township’s 6,472 units and adjustments for households with additional carts) and noted Vogal’s proposed annual contract escalators of 3–3.5% (with up to 4% in option years) compared with higher escalators in the current agreement. The presenter described operational differences: Vogal proposes leased carts in the contract, a customer-service approach with staffed phone lines, and a request that residents call ahead for bulk-item pickups; the township noted the collection days could change and staff is discussing whether to move to a four-day collection schedule.

Council members asked about cart sizes, bulk-item procedures, vendor reliability and drivers of Vogal’s lower price compared with larger national haulers. Staff said Vogal is a smaller regional firm with lower overhead and that staff had contacted neighboring municipalities that use Vogal for references. The motion to award base bid 2 to Vogal passed on a unanimous roll call. The contract includes an option for an additional five-year period; staff said rollout will include public outreach about cart changes and timing, and that new carts are scheduled to be delivered several weeks before Christmas of the contract start year.