EAST BRUNSWICK — In the hustle and bustle of daily life, it is a common feeling to rush out the door, only to realize later that the garbage was never brought down to the curb.
Township residents with a smartphone and two minutes to spare can now lay that pungent problem to rest. An app called My-Waste is available for download on computers and smartphones for easy access to a wealth of information about the township’s waste collection and recycling programs.
“You can set up the app personally for collection reminders for your recycling day and solid-waste collection day, and the reminders will come across your phone like someone sent you a text,” East Brunswick Recycling Coordinator Joseph Butrica said. “It will also reflect the holiday [collection schedules], brush collection and bulk-waste collection. Many residents have questions about these programs, and instead of having to pick up the calendar or call our office, [information is] instant.”
The app is available for download on Apple and Android devices, free of charge for residents.
According to the My-Waste website, townships with populations between 25,000 and 50,000 must pay a $2,000 onetime setup fee and a $2,800 annual fee to use the app.
Once a user inputs his or her country, state and town, the app presents a personalized calendar with color-coded shapes for solid waste, recyclables, bulk waste, brush and branch collection, and bagged leaf collection.
Each personalized program details the frequency of collection, the maximum collection amount, set-out times for each ward or district, and how to properly dispose of unusual items.
There is also a “report a problem” feature with the app, enabling residents to report missed pickups and other collection issues directly to the recycling center.
“It’s going to be good for many of the questions that the residents are going to have. They won’t have to have a calendar; they’ll be able to go to the app and solve all their problems there,” Butrica said.
More details on the My-Waste app can be found at www.eastbrunswick.org.