Garbage Changes

(Reprinted from Amboy Beacon, Oct. 27, 2010) PERTH AMBOY — The most-far-reaching changes to the city’s Garbage Ordinance since it was adopted in 1975 will be considered for adoption by the City Council after a public hearing today at 7 p.m. at City Hall, High Street.

The Amendments, which were proposed in reaction to a system which has been costly and inefficient, were moved by Councilman William Petrick, seconded by Councilman Kenneth Gonzalez and adopted 5-0 on first reading at the Council’s Oct. 13 meeting.

At a Special Meeting of the Council which was held at the Training Room at Fire Department Headquarters, New Brunswick Avenue, in late July, Public Works Director Paul Wnek joked about Perth Amboy’s garbage-trucks arriving at the Edgeboro Landfill, East Brunswick, and their drivers being asked, “How-many cities are you collecting?”

Among the Amendments are changes in definitions and placement, a new requirement to containerize sweepings, a mandatory 10-day deadline for removal of rubbish and refuse, and return of garbage-cans to storage-areas by 8 p.m.

of

the pickup day.

Also, the collection of bulk-items through a fee system that imposes a flat fee for four items in any one pickup, using color-coded stickers to identify different types of items, with charges depending-upon collection-costs involved.

Also, limits of the number of “special collections” per year per address, with one yearly citywide amnesty or FREE day, to be called “Citizens Cleanup Day.”