Larry Wittig, president of Tamaqua Transfer, addressed concerns of Walnutport Borough Council and residents Thursday.

The service provider took over the borough early this year and is still ironing out details of the trash hauling through the town. Recycling pickup has been an issue, with residents complaining to the borough office about items not being collected."Our guys were scrutinizing too much," Wittig said."I was told we are not the recycling police, and we are not. We just transport it," he said.According to the company president, items placed in the provided blue bins will be collected for recycling and not thrown in with the rest of the trash."From now on what's in the recycling containers goes. I don't want to split hairs. So we'll just let you folks sort it out with the recycling company," he said."We're not going to be the recycling police," Wittig said.The Diamond Fire Company asked for larger trash and recycling containers.Currently the department has a 6-yard container for trash and a 4-yard container for recycling.A 4-yard container holds 30 bags of trash. Typically a 4-yard container can store up to 800 pounds. The second container on site can hold 45 bags of trash or store up to 1,200 pounds.According to Rick Smith, a member of the board of directors of the fire company, the nonprofit hosts several events throughout the month leading to the overflow of the too-small receptacles. Nearby neighbors of Diamond have complained about trash on their lawns after a large event is hosted at the firehouse."The problem is when we have these functions we have more trash than you can put in the can. So now it's blowing around. But we want to be good neighbors," Smith said.Wittig suggested the company purchase its own 8-yard container, preferably rear loading, to avoid the issue in the future. An 8-yard container is able to hold approximately 60 garbage bags or store up to 1,600 pounds of material."We will not go beyond our contract with the borough," Wittig said."We don't use those size containers. If they purchase the container, they would own it. It's just a suggestion," Wittig said."In most municipalities, the fire companies are funded by the borough. They do a lot of their own fundraising but we do contribute," said council member and financial committee chair Nancy Treskot."I don't want to see them spend a lot of money to get their trash collected. Would you be willing to buy an 8-yard and take their 6-yard and we will pay the difference," she asked.Wittig said his company doesn't use them. "If we lose the contract in three years we'd be out the 8-yard container," he said.Smith said the fire company does not want to be liable for any injuries caused by emptying the container."We'll assume liability if someone gets hurt. That's not a good situation for us," Smith said.Wittig said that legal issue would have to be researched further.Mayor Wayne Weidner asked for three 6-yard containers."Contractually wise, we are not bound to do anything about this, but I want to," Wittig said."I will do the 6-yard container for recycling. We don't want you to be bad neighbors but there a certain amount of economics here," Wittig said.Wittig said some of the items being put out for collection are part of the problem."The hot spots are electronics, tires and recycling," he said."With a bigger company that has more resources it wouldn't be an issue. I need to go back and run the numbers," Wittig said.