By Andrew Martins, Managing Editor
An ordinance that aimed at restricting when solid waste companies could ply their wares in Hillsborough’s residential areas was temporarily put to the curb in light of suggested amendments from township officials.
Last month, the Hillsborough Township Council proposed an ordinance that would keep solid waste companies from operating their garbage trucks during the early hours of the morning.
At the time, Township Administrator Anthony Ferrara said his office had received a number of complaints from residents that were roused them from their sleep as a result of garbage collection efforts starting as early as 4 a.m.
Under the originally proposed ordinance, the municipal code book will have provisions in it requiring solid waste collection services to limit when solid waste collection companies can operate within the municipality.
The township originally proposed that all solid waste collection take place to between 7 a.m. and 10 p.m. “in order to preserve the peace and quiet in neighborhoods during the hours when most residents are asleep.”
During the Dec. 13 council meeting, Mayor Frank DelCore said that further discussion on this section of the ordinance resulted in the need to table the ordinance into next month.
“Based on some feedback from our health officer and our township administrator, this ordinance…will be reintroduced in January,” Mayor DelCore said.
The mayor said the newest iteration of the ordinance will move the times of operation back to 5 a.m.
No other potential changes were discussed during the meeting.
The old version of the ordinance called for a fine of up to $2,000, imprisonment for no longer than 90 days or both in the event that a company or individual failed to comply with the restrictions.
Additionally, for each day that officials find a person or company violating the ordinance, a “separate and distinct offense” will be charged.
In addition to the noise complaints, the proposed ordinance also calls for a “written record, log, bill or document evidencing receipt of service” from a waste collection agency for the previous month, as well as proof that the solid waste was taken to a proper facility for disposal.
For single-family and multi-family homes, as well as commercial properties, property owners will be required to enter into a solid waste collection contract for regular service where the township is unable to provide collection services. The requirement will not apply to residents who bring their refuse directly to the township’s solid waste facility.
In those cases, each property owner “shall furnish proof of collection service to the township at least once every 12 months.”
A specific date for when the proposed solid waste ordinance will be reintroduced, though Mayor DelCore said it would take place after January 1.
