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Message |
    
Jeff Alexander
Citizen
Username: Jalexander
Post Number: 11
Registered: 5-2003
| | Posted on Thursday, June 19, 2003 - 6:53 pm: | 
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Can anything be done about the garbage pickup here in South Orange?
First, we pay for garbage pickup - which is insane given our offensive level of property taxes
Second, the service is terrible - you drive into West Orange, and they leave everything outside except the kitchen sink (and sometimes they even leave that!). Our garbage service is picky about what they will and will not take - if I even leave flattened boxes outside (as per their directions) sometimes they get taken, sometimes they don't. Yes, its nice to have it picked up at the back, but I would gladly move my garbage to the front if I didn't have to leave my cardboard boxes outside for a 2-3 collections before they took them!
Why do we pay extra for an inferior level of service? How often does this contract come up and do homeowners have any say in its renewal? |
Southorangemom
Citizen
Username: Southorangemom
Post Number: 6
Registered: 6-2003
| | Posted on Friday, June 20, 2003 - 8:18 am: |
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Good questions!
I agree that we overpay for service which is minimal, at best.
My service allows me to put out cardboard boxes on the 2nd pickup of the week. But I often feel frustrated, and angry, because I have more trash to get rid of than will fit into 2 garbage cans.
I have lived in SO for 17 years and never heard a discussion about the company who has this contract. |
peteglider
Citizen
Username: Peteglider
Post Number: 142
Registered: 8-2002
| | Posted on Friday, June 20, 2003 - 9:48 am: |
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Are we limited to SO Disposal? In my previous town -- could select any trash hauler you wanted. So far I don't have any real complaints, though -- except its costlier than I paid before.
Pete |
JJC
Citizen
Username: Mercury
Post Number: 63
Registered: 12-2002
| | Posted on Friday, June 20, 2003 - 9:57 am: |
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I don't think it's that bad - for a town that has 2 pick ups per week and refuses to recycle anything other than newspaper... 'Our' garbage is the problem - the service is what it is, garbage pickup. We throw too much away. I would prefer to see more emphasis on recycling. |
David Lackey
Citizen
Username: Davidlackey
Post Number: 34
Registered: 4-2003
| | Posted on Friday, June 20, 2003 - 10:25 am: |
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JJC,
What do you mean by "refuses to recycle anything other than newspaper"? We put out newspapers, glass,plastic and aluminum cans in the green toter and magazines/high grade paper in the blue toter. What else would you propose? I'm all for more recycling, but our program does collect quite a bit. (As for garbage, having to pay for pickup with our high taxes is indicative of our town's woeful lack of a commercial tax base. The two garbage can limit is ridiculous.) |
JJC
Citizen
Username: Mercury
Post Number: 64
Registered: 12-2002
| | Posted on Friday, June 20, 2003 - 12:46 pm: |
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OK - a generalization. I'll have to check on this - I was told I could only do glass and newspaper (which I do). But the pickup is only once a month. I recycle everything I can and could really use a 2x per month pick up. And for that, I don't mind paying. If you want to recycle in this town, you have to make special arrangments to do so. Recycling should be promoted at least as an equal to disposal.
I does concern me that someone who is recycling, as you say you are, still has trouble getting all their non-recyclables in 2 garbage cans. Wha?
As for taxes - if I could go back to the west coast, I would do it in a minute. People here expect the govt to bail them out of or fix everything. And then, instead to taking responsibility for their govt, they complain about paying the taxes it takes to do this. Lots of talk, no action. It doesn't work.
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Jeff Alexander
Citizen
Username: Jalexander
Post Number: 12
Registered: 5-2003
| | Posted on Friday, June 20, 2003 - 1:57 pm: |
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I would be more than happy to recycle cardboard..heck, give me a third toter and I'll put all of my cardboard in it..
Im just sick and tired of cutting up every box I get and stuffing it into a garbage bag because that is the only way I can get them to consistently take it..
And yes, sometimes I don't get the garbage out on a Monday, we do a 'spring cleaning' over the weekend, or there is a non-pickup day on Monday .. How about a little leeway there on the two limit?
So how does the contract of this company get renewed?
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mrosner
Citizen
Username: Mrosner
Post Number: 471
Registered: 4-2002
| | Posted on Friday, June 20, 2003 - 2:08 pm: |
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JJC: The green toters are for bottles (glass or plastic), cans and newspapers. The Blue Toters are for high quality paper (Magazines, junk mail, etc). If you have too many bottles and cans you can use a plastic garbage pail (or similar). There has been some discussion about having twice monthly recycle pick-ups and I will pass on the request to the public works committee (Patrick Joyce).
The regular garbage pick-up is twice a week and that is the two bag limit that David was talking about. On the second pick-up of the week you can put out some boxes (they should be folded and tied or in some manner that makes it easier to handle). If we have "extra" garbage after a party, they have always picked it up without asking for a special favor.
If you have "bulk" garbage such as the proverbial kitchen sink you can call to schedule a special pick-up. They just need to know how much they will be picking up. There could be a charge for this.
Finally, there are several Saturday mornings when you can bring garbage to the town dumpsters. The dates are in the most recent issue of the Gaslight (I think the 28th of June is the next one). Last year one of the workers helped me with the heavier items without me asking (and no, none of them know I am a village trustee).
The garbage bill is not included in the tax bill because the amount of garbage does not change just because a house is assessed for more. It is a fixed cost per home and therefore would be unfair to any homeowner whose property is assessed higher than the average assessment.
One final note, the garbage men will walk to the rear of the house or the back of the driveway to pick up the garbage in S. Orange. Most towns do not offer this service any more and I think it is nice not to have to see sidewalks lined with garbage bags. |
soresident
Citizen
Username: Soresident
Post Number: 50
Registered: 10-2001
| | Posted on Friday, June 20, 2003 - 2:29 pm: |
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you can also bring items the town recycles (ie - newspaper; glass, bottles & soda cans; newspaper and high grade paper; cardboard) to the recycling center any time it is open. I do it all the time to limit what otherwise would accumulate in my garage. And - you don't have to do anything to cardboard boxes other than drop them off there. |
woodstock
Citizen
Username: Woodstock
Post Number: 196
Registered: 9-2002
| | Posted on Friday, June 20, 2003 - 3:11 pm: |
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Mr. Rosner wrote:
quote:The garbage bill is not included in the tax bill because the amount of garbage does not change just because a house is assessed for more. It is a fixed cost per home and therefore would be unfair to any homeowner whose property is assessed higher than the average assessment.
Since it is a fixed amount for everyone in town, just tack it onto the tax bill as a fixed amount (not part of the percentage). Since it's not optional (no way to bring our own gargage to a dump), it is essentially an unfunded mandate from the town! 
One less check to write every quarter.
How can you be in two places at once when you're not anywhere at all?
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Jeff Alexander
Citizen
Username: Jalexander
Post Number: 13
Registered: 5-2003
| | Posted on Friday, June 20, 2003 - 6:19 pm: |
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The question remains - how often does the contract come up for renewal and who decides? Are we able to put our two cents in? |
mrosner
Citizen
Username: Mrosner
Post Number: 473
Registered: 4-2002
| | Posted on Monday, June 23, 2003 - 10:19 am: |
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I do not know when the contract for either (Recycle or Garbage) comes up. I have found that the garbage pick-up is more than satisfactory. The limit to what they take is part of the contract negotiations and has nothing to do with what they will take. If we want them to take everything then the cost will increase.
The recycling contract for bottles and newspaper is seperate and is done by a different company. Again, it is a matter of budget. There are many who are satisfied with one pick-up a month and many who could use 2 pick-ups a month.
The best way to put your two cents in is to either send an email to John Gross, Patrick Joyce (chairs the committee for Public Works) or myself (I will pass it on to Patrick) or come to a trustee meeting and voice your opinion.
The village administrator basically makes a reccomendation when the contract(s) comes up and the BOT votes on the matter. |
seeingeyemom
Citizen
Username: Seeingeyemom
Post Number: 52
Registered: 7-2001
| | Posted on Monday, June 23, 2003 - 3:01 pm: |
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Can we look into recycling more than just #1 plastics (soda bottles)? Our next door neighbors in Maplewood can recycle #1 and #2 (milk jugs/laundry detergent). At a minimum we should be able to do that. |
mrosner
Citizen
Username: Mrosner
Post Number: 474
Registered: 4-2002
| | Posted on Monday, June 23, 2003 - 3:12 pm: |
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Right now you can recylce any plastic or glass container except those that are marked with some kind of warning (i.e. liquid plumber). Some of the "milk jugs" are made with plastic containers that were not intended to be recycled (same for apple cider). They are probably not supposed to be put out in Maplewood either.
Also, high grade paper (junk mail, catalogues and magazines, etc) can be recycled if you have a Blue Toter (available from village hall).
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South Beach Gal
Citizen
Username: South_beach_gal
Post Number: 13
Registered: 2-2003
| | Posted on Wednesday, June 25, 2003 - 2:28 pm: |
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I would like to see recycling for brown paper bags and plastic bags. I called the recycling center and they do not recycle either. Also, does anyone kow if cereal boxes and the like be put into high grade paper recyling? They are not corrogated cardboard and seem to have a waxy coating on them. |
doublea
Citizen
Username: Doublea
Post Number: 209
Registered: 3-2003
| | Posted on Wednesday, June 25, 2003 - 3:02 pm: |
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You can recycle plastic bags at Whole Foods. |
snshirsch
Citizen
Username: Snshirsch
Post Number: 76
Registered: 1-2003
| | Posted on Wednesday, June 25, 2003 - 3:13 pm: |
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Here are the recycling Do's and Dont's as published by the Department of Public Works. I have cropped the pdf file to include only these rules. The complete file can be found at http://www.southorange.org/dpw/toter-info/Toter2003.pdf
Hope this helps.
West Orange's recycling center will accept the following items and I believe that they do not check for residency status. The center is on Mt. Pleasant Avenue. But I am pretty sure that SO will accept most of these also as long as they are brought to the DPW on Walton Avenue. The glass and plastic for SO does not need to be separated.
The following materials may be recycled at the Recycling Center:
- Clothing and textiles
- Newspapers, magazines, catalogs, phone books,
junk mail, office paper, computer paper and
books with hard covers removed
- Glass bottles separated by color (similar to curbside collection)
- Aluminum Beverage Cans
- Plastic Containers from beverages and detergents only
- Cardboard
- Tin cans, empty paint cans, empty aerosol cans
- Refrigerators, air conditioners, dehumidifiers
- Scrap metal and metal appliances
- Leaves - No Plastic Bags Accepted
- Vegetative Yard Waste - Limited Amounts Onlv
- Grass - No Plastic Bags Accepted
- Car Batteries and Motor Oil
- Tires
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mrosner
Citizen
Username: Mrosner
Post Number: 479
Registered: 4-2002
| | Posted on Wednesday, June 25, 2003 - 4:36 pm: |
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Now if we could just send our students to their schools without them checking residency status..... |
newtoallthis
Citizen
Username: Newtoallthis
Post Number: 37
Registered: 2-2003
| | Posted on Wednesday, June 25, 2003 - 5:59 pm: |
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South Orange dump doesn't take grass. Sigh. They've got a sign covered with overgrown weeds where you dump yard waste that says grass dumping is not allowed. |
paddy
Citizen
Username: Paddy
Post Number: 114
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, June 25, 2003 - 9:07 pm: |
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From Spring to Fall you can leave out front (they won't take from the back of the house) two plastic bags of grass clippings on Thursdays, and SO Disposal will pick them up. Says so on their invoice. |
newtoallthis
Citizen
Username: Newtoallthis
Post Number: 38
Registered: 2-2003
| | Posted on Thursday, June 26, 2003 - 12:37 pm: |
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Thanks, paddy. Didn't know that. BTW saw something interesting today. As I walked down Tillou, I noticed the trash guys, instead of going house to house and dumping garbage into their big orange cans, were throwing household bags (some of which opened) onto the curb. They then brought the truck buy and threw bags into it (strewing garbage onto street in the process sometimes). Not a very efficient change I'd say... |
argon_smythe
Citizen
Username: Argon_smythe
Post Number: 73
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, June 26, 2003 - 4:15 pm: |
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Who cares whether we pay for the service via taxes or directly to the service provider? You're paying for it either way. In fact, throwing a tax person or two in between you and the person collecting your garbage probably ain't gonna make that cost go down none...
The grass situation is just plain screwy. During some time of year, you gotta put it out only in paper bags and the town gets it. Then another time of year, the garbage co. collects it and they require only plastic bags. Oh and they collect it the SECOND pickup of the week, when probably most people who do their own lawns do them on the weekends. I got so fed up with the whole screwy thing I just started "composting" it a corner of my yard. That is a fancy word for making a big pile of it and hoping it doesn't take over some day.
The recycling schedule sucks, it's so far apart that there's no way to "know" it's recycling day like you "know" it's trash day (we always figure it out by waking up in the morning and saying "oh sh*t everyone's got their recycling out!"). Maybe it's the third Friday after the last full moon or something but durned if I could ever figger it out. Oh and then they give you this HUGE toter which you would think would be for all your bottles and cans, and this LITTLE insert which you would think would be to put the newspaper into, but surprise! It's the EXACT OPPOSITE. So we had to go out and buy a bunch of green bins to hold the bottles & cans, and we have this huge wheeled toter sitting out there with a few Sunday papers stuck to the bottom.
All in all, I like the service which picks up the garbage from the back of the house, it is pretty much the one good thing going in all of this mess. Now people want to actually do AWAY with this service, AND make it a tax instead? PLEASE give me an opt out option on both counts! Don't you people know, you don't ask for LESS SERVICE, you ask for LOWER PRICE. Repeat three times... You'll have no problem getting the less service but guarantee you the lower price will be pennies on the dollar and NOT worth your time spent haulin' them cans...
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doublea
Citizen
Username: Doublea
Post Number: 211
Registered: 3-2003
| | Posted on Thursday, June 26, 2003 - 4:40 pm: |
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I pretty much have to agree with Argon on this one. The cost is probably reasonable compared to what it would cost if the Village did it. The fact that the pickup is at the garage or back of the house means that the streets are much less littered than they would be otherwise. The guys picking up the garbage are really good guys; summer's finally here and it's hot - if you happen to be around when the garbage men come, cold water to drink is appreciated - it really goes a long way.
The once a month recycling is tough, particularly with the glass and plastic. There is always the recycling yard for in-between pickups and as Argon suggested, a plastic garbage can for the overflow makes things a little easier. |
seeingeyemom
Citizen
Username: Seeingeyemom
Post Number: 53
Registered: 7-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, June 26, 2003 - 9:48 pm: |
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Mr. Rosner - If you read the "dos & don'ts" it says only #1 plastic. This means that the majority of detergent bottles are not recyclable.
I have both a green and blue toter. Keep my cardboard in another trash can for the dump, bring my aluminum cans to the firehouse and plastic bags to A&P. However...still no place to recycle #2 plastic, batteries or tin cans. Why can't we get with the 21st Century?? |
mrosner
Citizen
Username: Mrosner
Post Number: 481
Registered: 4-2002
| | Posted on Friday, June 27, 2003 - 10:04 am: |
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seeingeyemom: I will pass on all the comments to the public works committee. It would seem that we should have a way to recycle all plastics and batteries. I know the concern was addressed regarding the plastic detergent containers but I just don't remember what the problem was but I will check on it.
You can put aluminum cans in the recylce container with the bottles.
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Do's & Dont's