Impact of garbage strike minimal in East Windsor

Trash and recycling pick-up returns to normal following strike by Waste Management employees.

By: Marisa Maldonado
   EAST WINDSOR — After impacting the pickup of recyclables last week, trash collection has returned to normal despite the continuing garbage strike, the mayor said.
   Waste Management, whose workers from Teamsters Local 701 have been on strike since Jan. 9, sent replacement workers to handle the Wednesday recycling pickup, Mayor Janice Mironov said.
   Waste Management handles only recycling for East Windsor; township workers pick up garbage.
   A later start, fewer trucks and a lack of knowledge of the township’s streets all hampered collection last week, Mayor Mironov said. Waste Management since has returned to the standard fleet of two or three trucks, she said, and this week’s collection happened as scheduled.
   "We are monitoring the situation closely, have regular contact with Waste Management," Mayor Mironov said. "We are hopeful that the services are able to continue as smoothly as can be expected."
   While East Windsor residents can continue with pickup as scheduled, those in Twin Rivers have had to make special accommodations for their pickup. Waste Management normally picks up trash four days a week in the community. Residents must leave their garbage in the designated bulk trash areas. Newspaper, cardboard and bulk trash must be held until the strike is over.
   Twin Rivers Community Trust Administrator Jennifer Ward did not return phone calls for comment.