| Author | Message | ||
     Virtual It Girl Citizen Username: Shh Post Number: 4893 Registered: 5-2001 |
Moving from MPL to SO. I already arranged for Phone, Cable & Modem via Cablevision & transferred my PSE&G, now I'm confused about the recycling in SO (toter application???), garbage pick-up, water, and who knows what else. Is there one place I can get all this info? I looked at the SO Official Website and some info from the RE agency but it doesn't seem to have all the info and explanations. For example, do we have to get a toter? Is that the only way to recycle? One the SO website it says "private scavengers" pick up trash. Huh? I'm trying to arrange everything before moving in 2 weeks. Thx in advance for any helpful info. | ||
| Dave Supporter Username: Dave  Post Number: 10290 Registered: 4-1997  |
You need the toter only if you'll be recycling newspaper. Maybe the previous owner will leave theirs? | ||
| mjc Citizen Username: Mjc Post Number: 1258 Registered: 10-2004 |
Welcome to SO! You can use the toter and have your recycling picked up at the curb, or you can take your recycle items to the DPW (next to Farrell Field and the JAC). I'm not sure what you can put in the toter; I think bottles, aluminum cans, newspaper and "high grade" paper aka junk mail. At the DPW, you can drop off those items + yard trimmings and metal appliances, tires (with a tag from town hall). Once a month from about May through Sept there is a Saturday "container day" where you can bring other items to DPW, the lame SO substitute for Maplewood's big trash days. Garbage pick-up is by "private scavengers" South Orange Disposal on Church St. They should be in the phone book. Twice a week, pretty much the same drill as in Mpl, different company. For water, I would call town hall, that's where the check goes, though the service is provided out of I think East Orange. A lot of the recycling and seasonal (leaf pickup etc.) info is available in a brochure from the DPW that someone at town hall might be able to get for you, or the same info might be on the town website (link on the MOL home page, I think). | ||
| Pdg Citizen Username: Pdg Post Number: 1115 Registered: 5-2004  |
You don't need the toter if you don't mind taking your recycling to the Recycling Depot located off Walton near the SO/Maplewood border (they same driveway as the JAC shelter.) The toter is not really convenient for people who end up with more cans/bottles than newspapers and it is really huge. The bottom very large part is for newspapers only and the top insert (about 3x2 - not very big) is only for aluminum cans (no tin cans or food cans - basically just soda cans), plastic (#1 only, so don't bother saving any other plastic for recycling) and food & beverage glass (no plate glass or broken vases/glasses). I take my small pile of newspapers and my personal recylcing bin of cans bottles plastic, as well as corrugated cardboard boxes down to recycling myself every week or so. (They close at 4pm on the dot on weekdays, btw.) Take ID with your address on it just in case - they've hardly ever asked for it in 9 years, but one time they did, and of course I wasn't ready to show any and had to go home and get it. Oh, and you can also take your non-grass yard waste there - branches less than 4" diameter, trimmings, weeds, etc. Last year's waste is this year's mulch and it is free to residents all summer. Welcome to S.Orange! | ||
| Nancy - LibraryLady Supporter Username: Librarylady Post Number: 3745 Registered: 5-2001  |
The toter is not really convenient for people who end up with more cans/bottles than newspapers PDG, you can put extra bottles/cans in another garbage can or receptacle and put it out with the toter. We often have 2-3 garbage cans full of glass and can (can be comingled). | ||
| Nancy - LibraryLady Supporter Username: Librarylady Post Number: 3746 Registered: 5-2001 |
VIT, don't forget to come in to the Library and get your new library card. Just bring something with your new S.O. address on it, like a bill, lease, driver's license once it is changed, etc. See you there. | ||
| Jersey_Boy Citizen Username: Jersey_boy Post Number: 1577 Registered: 1-2006  |
The Gaslight has a lot of this info, and it has a bunch of phone numbers for town services. If you have just moved, you won't get one for a while, but you could ask your new neighbors (maybe me) for theirs. I still can't figure out the toter schedule. Taking the stuff to the recycling center has become a father/son exercise in our house. The guys there are really cool and will crush the stuff in the garbage trucks when I'm there with my son (he likes trucks). We also go into the garage and look at the town vehicles. Usually one of the guys offers to let J.B. jr. sit in a truck, but he's a little too freaked out to actually do it. So, we've worked out a non-toter system. Welcome to South Orange! J.B. | ||
| SOrising Citizen Username: Sorising Post Number: 572 Registered: 2-2006 |
Many people have had many problems with South Orange Disposal. A better alternative is T. Farese & Sons in Belleville. SOD claims they charge less, but because they routinely overcharge people, they actually are more. They have been fined by the state, have threatened people before and have been pretty thuggish to more than one person. Farese is run like a half-way normal business. | ||
| Lucy Supporter Username: Lucy Post Number: 5065 Registered: 5-2005  |
VIG welcome to SO what part of town are you moving into so we can tell you which day there is a pick up for whatever.  | ||
| Virtual It Girl Citizen Username: Shh Post Number: 4896 Registered: 5-2001 |
We are moving to Montrose, near the Orange border. So you don't HAVE to use SO Disposal? We can use whomever we choose for garbage pick up? | ||
| Soparents Supporter Username: Soparents Post Number: 2541 Registered: 5-2005  |
I don't believe there is a choice, there is only SO disposal as far as I know, and you make the checks out every two months to S.O. Disposal for your twice weekly pickup. | ||
| Rastro Citizen Username: Rastro Post Number: 3677 Registered: 5-2004  |
SOrising, where do you live that Farese is an option? I don't think they'll come to a block in South Orange unless they happen to be on the same street in a neighboring town. | ||
| Shanabana Citizen Username: Shanabana Post Number: 869 Registered: 10-2005  |
I've had no overcharges from SO Disposal. We just got the Blue toter, and seemed to be the only people in the hood who had one. We always have LOTS of hi grade paper, and are totally relieved that we finally got the blue toter. | ||
| SOrising Citizen Username: Sorising Post Number: 573 Registered: 2-2006 |
There are several archives on MOL about problems people have had with SOD. There definitely is a choice (inherent in the term "scavenger services" to describe the lowest kind of garbage hauling the state allows). The State of NJ recommends that municipalities provide garbage service themselves to residents, in which case, the service would be more accountable to residents and local businesses, while fees for the service would be tax deductible. The BOT ignores the recommendations of the State on this point and leaves residents to fend for themselves. It has protected the illegal behavior of SOD in the past, so it is not surprising that the town administration might mislead people into thinking it is the only garbage service in town. It is not. Shortly after levying one of several fines against SOD for violations of state regulations and laws, the state asked T. Farese & Sons to provide service to residents of South Orange. They do so now regardless of where anyone lives. There is also some choice about how often they pick garbage up, if you use them. They may be reached at 973-242-8008; ask for Annette Farese in the accounting department to inquire about new service. (Others there may also be able to tell you about it as well.) VIG, I think you may be able to find a recycling pickup schedule for your address through the town's website, if you click on the Department of Public Works, which oversees it (SOD does not, I don't believe). Welcome to South Orange, VIG. I think you will find MOL often is a more reliable source of information than the town is, but you'll have to judge that for yourself on a case-by-case basis. Hope you register to vote and help get a new slate of trustees to govern the town next spring, ones that serve the town and its residents better than the present lot. | ||
| Nancy - LibraryLady Supporter Username: Librarylady Post Number: 3759 Registered: 5-2001 |
You would think if Farese is available to S.O. residents they would have advertised themselves. This is the first I've heard about it. (BTW) I never have had any problems with SOD> If they miss a pickup- one pone call is all it takes to have them come back.) | ||
| mrosner Citizen Username: Mrosner Post Number: 2880 Registered: 4-2002 |
Just for the record, I have never had a problem with SOD. Other than some billing issues a while back, I can only remember one resident ever complaining to me. They once saw me walking out of the house and they backed the truck up the hill to get my garbage. The two guys who work our route are friendly and they usually even put the lid back on the pail. As for Farese, for the same charge as SOD, they pick up once a week. However, if anyone is not happy with SOD, they should seek an alternative. | ||
| wnb Citizen Username: Wnb Post Number: 475 Registered: 8-2001 |
The recycling schedule is posted on the south orange web site. The main complaint with it is its frequency, or lack thereof. | ||
| Virtual It Girl Citizen Username: Shh Post Number: 4898 Registered: 5-2001 |
Thanks all, this has been very helpful. | ||
| SOrising Citizen Username: Sorising Post Number: 575 Registered: 2-2006 |
Trustee Rosner, of course SOD would provide good service to you. You are responsible for providing them, through the town, with free advertising and doing little when numerous residents have complained across many years, on MOL and elsewhere, about them. In past years, you have commented yourself on MOL in response to numerous complaints; it is a matter of record, regardless of your motive for suggesting you have not heard these complaints. For these reasons, I also believe T. Farese themselves are probably a better source of information about their own schedules and fees than you are. | ||
| bets Supporter Username: Bets Post Number: 23759 Registered: 6-2001  |
VIG - welcome to South Orange. Though the government is somewhat "challenged," it's a great town made better by your presence. I hope you and Mr. VIG will follow SOrising's advice and participate in the non-partisan election that will happen in May '07. Please let me know if there's anything I can do to help you settle or figure things out. I know you have Pippi and Notehead to help you navigate, but I'm just saying. | ||
| mrosner Citizen Username: Mrosner Post Number: 2882 Registered: 4-2002 |
SORising: I had good service long before I was on the BOT, and I really doubt the garbage men have any idea of my position in the village. I stand behind my statement that as far as garbage pick-up, SOD does a good job with very few complaints about the service (most of the complaints were about the billing). So tell me, who are these numerous residents who have complained about SOD's service? Only once has a resident complained to me about the service (SOD missed his house for a pick-up). You are right, anyone can call Farese or any other service if they are not satisfied with SOD and find out the rates for themselves. | ||
| jayjay Citizen Username: Jayjayp Post Number: 739 Registered: 6-2005 |
Once, a few years back, when there was a strike and South Orange Disposal didn't pick up garbage, i attempted to arrange for my own garbage disposal with another contractor. Forget it. Nobody would come into South Orange. I don't know if it was the idea of crossing into another's territory or fear of striker retaliation or what. But I definitely felt like there was intimidation by SOD somewhere along the line. | ||
| SOrising Citizen Username: Sorising Post Number: 577 Registered: 2-2006 |
Trustee Rosner, as previously mentioned, search the MOL archives for numerous complaints, across several years, to review complaints about SOD. You will find there your own comments in response to residents' complaints. You are politically naive if you think the owner of SOD has no idea who the trustees of the village are since the village is constantly providing cover for it. It also seems likely that he would communicate this information to his employees. (You would also be foolish to think residents would believe SOD provides good service to you without knowing that you are partly responsible for protecting its illegal activities.) If people thought the village would do anything to improve garbage service in town, I am certain you would have many more complaints in addition to those you already have had but have ignored. Dan Jacobs, whom you complimented on another thread as a new PA commissioner, is one of those I believe who complained previously on MOL about SOD. But he was one of several you claim not to have heard and to know nothing about, despite the fact that your own comments appear throughout threads discussing problems with SOD. jayjay, it is true it was difficult for residents to find alternatives to SOD, thanks to the BOT and the town administrator. It is also true it is worse because the BOT and the town talk out of two sides of their mouths about their position towards SOD: on the one hand, they claim to have nothing to do with securing garbage service for residents, while on the other, its trustees (witness Trustee Rosner) publicly defend SOD even though everyone knows they have heard numerous, unremedied complaints about it for several years running while the town routinely refers new residents to it and to no other garbage haulers in the area. It is like Beifus: they publicly pretend everything is ok because they are unwilling to do what is necessary to get competent vendors and developers to operate in town. The State of NJ has intervened several times into this residual state of dysfunction in the town. It asked Farese to provide garbage pick up service in town, so it is now a bit easier to secure an alternative, although the BOT continues to evade bigger problems with SOD while it provides cover to its ongoing illegal activities. This is consistent, however, with the BOT's own illegal activities in using bond money for Tau and attempting to use HUD money illegally for it as well, until it retreated from this effort. A review of the town's use of HUD money would probably reveal other illegal uses since the BOT is on record in revealing its intent to break the law with Tau. The pattern is clear here: break the law, provide protection to those who do, and deny, evade and avoid any responsibility for it. The town needs and deserves several new trustees and I hope it gets them next year. | ||
| jayjay Citizen Username: Jayjayp Post Number: 740 Registered: 6-2005 |
Has anyone in South Orange used Farese and have information about them? ((phone number, rates, etc.) | ||
| SOrising Citizen Username: Sorising Post Number: 580 Registered: 2-2006 |
scroll backwards, jayjay. Information already provided. | ||
| mrosner Citizen Username: Mrosner Post Number: 2884 Registered: 4-2002 |
SORising: What is your complaint with the service SOD provides? | ||
| Pdg Citizen Username: Pdg Post Number: 1125 Registered: 5-2004 |
Over 9 years in S.O. I've overall had good service with SOD. For the record, I am not a trustee (and wouldn't want to be one, frankly!), do not work for SO or any municipality. They've "missed" my house maybe 5 times, but when they have I've called and had immediate pickup. I had trouble w/the men taking my grass clippings (before I started mulching) but again, after calling they would come take the bags. The woman who answers the phone is very nice, which can't be easy since she probably mainly gets calls when people are ticked off. I actually really like that they come to the side of my house to my cans without me having to move them . I live on a hill, have a hilly driveway and very sloped front lawn. If I had to drag my cans to the "curb", my cans would end up rolling down the hill 9 times out of 10. I've used them once for a dumpster, with no problems and at a reasonable price. I've called the foreman, Tony, several times to arrange for extra pickups of large amounts of junk from our driveway after spring cleanups of garage/basement/attic as well as taking old carpeting. They are prompt and have reasonable prices for that as well. I tip my guys at the holidays (which is against SOD policy, BTW), give them cool drinks when I see them on hot days and let them use my garden hose to cool off when they want. They do a necessary job that I wouldn't do for any amount of money! The one thing I would want changed is for S.Orange to contract for all residents and pay for garbage out of our taxes, which makes the most sense from a tax perspective. But that would probably make as many people upset as it would please, so they don't bother. | ||
| DReese Citizen Username: Dreese Post Number: 27 Registered: 6-2006 |
just moved in to so and find the garbage disposal and recycling such a project. and since we've moved in, we of course have so much trash from unpacking and etc. i can't even believe you're only limited to one toter and 2 bags of grass cuttings. we had about 6 bags of cuttings and weeds to throw out from the previous owners. we're paying for the garbage but there's so many rules and to do and not to do. i guess welcome to the neighborhood huh? | ||
| SOrising Citizen Username: Sorising Post Number: 613 Registered: 2-2006 |
Welcome to SO, DReese. Like you, many of us want things improved in town. It means pretty much getting a new Board of Trustees next spring. Please register to vote and vote next spring in the elections. | ||
| Mergele Citizen Username: Mergele Post Number: 427 Registered: 7-2003  |
DReese, that's why we refer to them oh-so-fondly as The Trash Nazis! ... for the record, Mr. Rosner, I have directed complaints about SOD - in writing - to the village government in the past, but have never received any sort of official response. After two years of intermittent battles I appear to have fought them to a draw and have managed to convince them that it is in their best interests not to mess with me anymore. They continue to miss regularly scheduled pick-ups at random intervals. But now instead of having to listen to personal abuse and threats from their management on every such occasion, I just leave them a voice mail (has anyone ever called there and spoken to an actual human being?) instructing them in no uncertain terms that they have 12 hours to make the missed pick-up, or I'm calling NJDEP to report the service suspension. Works like a charm. Interestingly enough, I don't even have to leave my address or phone number. This has been going on for so long that they know my name. |
