City, merchants meet to solve garbage woes
Uptown businesses
seek solution to
illegal dumping
LONG BRANCH — Problems with unauthorized garbage dumping uptown can be solved, but it’s going to take some cooperation.
Rick Eyerman, owner of Coast Hardware on Broadway, has said that unauthorized dumping behind his store has gotten out of hand but feels that city officials are aware of the concerns and are making changes.
On Sept. 25 officials from the Department of Public Works (DPW), code enforcement, Urban Enterprise Zone Officer Charles Simonelli, and Eyerman met to discuss some solutions.
Eyerman noted that there are several separate issues to be dealt with, not just illegal dumping, but if everyone unites, all of the problems can be solved.
An important first step, explained Eyerman, is for some business owners to supervise their employees to make sure that the garbage is dumped properly.
"The disposal area is marked clearly," said Eyerman, "but items such as paint cans, tires and household furniture are dumped illegally, while recyclables and cardboard boxes are not properly disposed of."
Fred Migliaccio, director of the Department of Public Works, has said that a number of steps can be taken to remediate the problems. He suggested locking the garbage area and giving the merchants and residential tenants keys. "This is not my first choice, because we don’t want to create undue hardship or an inconvenience," he said.
Another option which Migliaccio is strongly leaning toward is a camera security system to monitor the area on a 24-hour basis. In addition, although not yet finalized, a DPW employee would be assigned to asses the area periodically.
"We will also fine those caught, and under the law, police can seize their vehicles, which they use to dump the materials," said Migliaccio.
The situation with recyclables is different and more difficult, according to Eyerman, who noted that it is not unusual for recyclables pickups to be missed.
According to Migliaccio, the recyclables, which are picked up on specific days, are not always properly bundled or sorted. "My men then spend time on sorting out the materials."
To properly sort the materials, agreed Eyerman, is not the responsibility of the DPW but rather the merchants. "It is sometimes obvious by the marking on boxes or containers where they came from, and who disposed of them improperly."
Eyerman also added that communication is key between store owners and their employees, since some employees can have a lax attitude about how things are dumped.
Often, noted Eyerman, garbage is thrown in one area of the pad overflowing a large trash bin. At the same time, another large trash bin is almost empty. This, he said, causes a problem when the bins are emptied because bags fall off and then are left behind.
"If we continue to work together — city officials, merchants and residents," said Eyerman, "we will be able to solve our garbage problems."