The Saucon Valley Compost Center is located at 2011 Springtown Hill Road, Hellertown.
It’s been a tough spring for local residents accustomed to taking their yard waste to the Saucon Valley Compost Center for disposal. Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the facility on Springtown Hill Road did not open as scheduled last month.
In late April a curbside yard waste collection was conducted in Hellertown, however both borough and Lower Saucon Township residents say their yard waste is really piling up.
That may soon change, however.
On Monday, Hellertown Borough Council discussed a proposal to reopen the compost center with social distancing precautions in place. If the plan also receives support from Lower Saucon Township Council Wednesday, the center could reopen soon.
Borough manager Cathy Hartranft said it would be open from 9 a.m. to noon, Monday through Friday, negating the need to pay any staff overtime.
“Only a minimum amount of people at one time would be allowed to go in to the actual center to unload and drop off,” she said, adding that both the borough and township public works directors are in support of the proposed plan.
Normally the compost center is open Fridays and Saturdays, and spring is typically the busiest time of year at the facility.
For more information about the Saucon Valley Compost Center, click here.
In other business, Mayor David Heintzelman shared a concern about residents using the Saucon Rail Trail after sunset.
Like other borough parks, the trail is open daily from dawn til dusk, however Heintzelman said he has observed people walking or running on it in near darkness around 8 p.m.
Police Chief Robert Shupp said he would make his officers aware of the issue, and that they will enforce the closing time.
Monday’s borough council meeting was held virtually via Facebook Live due to the pandemic. A video recording of it can be viewed on the borough’s Facebook page.
The next borough council meeting will be held Monday, May 18 online at 7 p.m.
