E.B. officials tout plan to limit trash collection
Stahl anticipates savings of $2M over five years
BY VINCENT TODARO Staff Writer

Amid some mild criticism, East Brunswick officials are touting the benefits of a plan to switch garbage collection from twice a week to once.

During Monday's night's Township Council meeting, officials discussed the plan, which would limit trash collection but purportedly save East Brunswick more than $300,000 per year. The discussion included input from two members of the township's Parks & Public Works Department, as well as members of the Environmental Commission, who lauded the move.

Thomas Williams, director of Parks & Public Works, said he is recommending the town go with Central Jersey Waste & Recycling, the company that presented East Brunswick with the lowest responsible bid for once-a-week trash pickup. The contract would be for five years, and the per-ton cost would be a savings of about 20 percent from the present fee.

Williams said the township would save nearly $300,000 this year alone. The annual cost savings is estimated to be about $60,000 higher, but this year's service would not begin until the first quarter is over, lowering the year's savings.

Mayor David Stahl said he foresees savings of near $2 million over the life of the contract. He noted how 1 cent on the municipal tax rate in East Brunswick is equal to about $200,000 in the budget, so the annual savings will be about 2 cents per $100 of assessed valuation.

Williams said not only will East Brunswick save money in terms of solid waste pickup, but it would also save because the more limited trash pickup will likely increase recycling by residents. It costs less to discard recycled items than solid waste.

East Brunswick is one of only four towns in Middlesex County that still collects solid waste twice a week, he said.

Trash pickup would take place only Mondays through Fridays, he said. If a holiday falls on a Friday, only then would there be garbage trucks on the roads on Saturdays.

But with trash pickup mostly confined to weekdays, council President Catherine Diem said she is glad that garbage trucks would no longer roam township streets on Saturdays.

Williams said that bulk waste, including grass, would still be collected once a week, and on the same day as solid waste pickup.

The end of March is the date for the start of the new collection schedule, he said.

The once-per-week solid waste schedule will be rough in the beginning, as residents adjust, township Recycling Coordinator Joseph Butrica said. But after some time, residents will become acclimated.

Also during Monday's meeting, some contractors who lost out to Central Jersey complained the service will not the panacea some officials believe.

One resident, Michael DeLucia, said he opposes the change, and that collecting garbage only once per week will result in smells, especially during the summer, as well as more garbage and bugs hanging around.

He said limiting pickup every other week is a better idea.

"I think that this is a bad idea," he said.