A new three-year contract for trash collection and recycling will cost Rush Township nearly $540,000.

By a unanimous vote, the township's board of supervisors on Thursday awarded the contract to Tamaqua Transfer & Recycling in the amount of $539,385.Four companies submitted bids to the township for trash collection and disposal of refuse and recyclable material for a one- and three-year period.The three-year bid for trash collection and recycling submitted by Tamaqua Transfer was $8,455 less than the next closest bid of $547,840 turned in by County Waste of PA.Advanced Disposal - Lehigh Valley ($778,939), and J. P. Mascaro & Sons ($1,326,816) also put in submissions for the three-year bid for trash collection and recycling.Tamaqua Transfer also turned in bids for trash collection and recycling ($179,795, one year); just for trash ($179,795, one year); and just for trash ($539,385, three years).County Waste also submitted bids for trash collection and recycling ($180,080, one year); just for trash ($173,160, one year); and just for trash ($526,780, three years).Advanced Disposal also turned in bids for trash collection and recycling ($254,592, one year); just for trash ($226,512, one year); and just for trash ($693,014, three years).J.P. Mascaro also submitted bids for trash collection and recycling ($424,500, one year); just for trash ($288,720, one year); and just for trash ($901,440, three years).The township's current garbage and recycling contract is for three years with Advanced Disposal - Lehigh Valley.That contract is set to expire in March of 2017.Branch & leaf pickupAlso on Thursday, supervisors announced that October begins the township's branch and leaf pickup.The schedule is as follows:• Week 1: Oct. 3-7, area will be south of Route 54 and east of Route 309• Week 2: Oct. 10-14, south of 54 and west of 309.• Week 3: Oct. 17-21, north of 54 and east of 309.• Week 4: Oct. 24-28, north of 54 and west of 309.