Although we’re not quite halfway through 2025, there’s one unpleasant certainty forthcoming in Summit Hill’s 2026 budget.

Garbage collection fees are going to rise substantially.

During a meeting of the Summit Hill Borough Council on Tuesday, only one bid was received for a garbage collection contract. The current contract, which was for five years, ends on Dec. 31.

That only bid was from Tamaqua Transfer, which is the present refuse collector in the borough. Tamaqua Transfer submitted a quotation of $2,368,512 or $592,128 per year.

The existing five-year pact was $338,210 per year.

Summit Hill residents now pay $60 per quarter or $240 per year for garbage collection. This includes semi-annual cleanup weeks as well as an annual electronic recycling event.

The cleanup weeks and electronic recycling will continue under the new pact.

The council asked for bids for a one-, two-, three- and four-year contract. Tamaqua Transfer did not submit quotes for the first three options.

Larry Wittig, president of Tamaqua Transfer, said the two main factors for the rate increase is that the landfills are charging higher fees and wages for his employees were increased.

The council did not predict what the new residential rates for trash collection will be since this will be determined when the 2026 budget is drawn up.

Numerous other municipalities have seen steep rate increases in garbage collection in the past several years.

Neighboring Lansford borough this year increased its rate from $60 per quarter to $115 per quarter or $460 a year.

In other business, Mayor Jeffrey Szczecina said attendance at the 2025 Memorial Day service and parade “was the largest crowd since COVID.”

He said there were places along the parade route where spectators stood 8-10 people deep.

“These were crowds like we haven’t seen in years,” he said.

He praised the parade committee, police department, fire department, borough workers and recreation commission for their work during the parade.

Kira Steber, secretary/treasurer of the borough, said police and borough worker freely contributed a lot of their time to help make Memorial Day events a success.

Szczecina said of the Memorial Day parade and service, “It really is a community event.”