logo
Google Play App Store
Log In subscribe and/or renew Eeditions
  • Home
  • E-Edition
    • This Week Newspaper
    • Archives
    • Local Shops
    • This is Westfield
    • Search the Archives
  • News
  • Opinions
  • Sports
  • Community
    • Life Events
    • Community Calendar
  • Arts & Entertainment
  • Obituaries
    • Submit an Obituary
  • Classified
  • Legals
  • Advertise
    • Advertorial
    • Paid Political
    • Sponsored Content
  • subscribe and/or renew
  • Contact
    • Home
    • E-Edition
      • This Week Newspaper
      • Archives
      • Local Shops
      • This is Westfield
      • Search the Archives
    • News
    • Opinions
    • Sports
    • Community
      • Life Events
      • Community Calendar
    • Arts & Entertainment
    • Obituaries
      • Submit an Obituary
    • Classified
    • Legals
    • Advertise
      • Advertorial
      • Paid Political
      • Sponsored Content
    • subscribe and/or renew
    • Contact
  • Home
  • E-Edition
    • This Week Newspaper
    • Archives
    • Local Shops
    • This is Westfield
    • Search the Archives
  • News
  • Opinions
  • Sports
  • Community
    • Life Events
    • Community Calendar
  • Arts & Entertainment
  • Obituaries
    • Submit an Obituary
  • Classified
  • Legals
  • Advertise
    • Advertorial
    • Paid Political
    • Sponsored Content
  • subscribe and/or renew
  • Contact
    • Home
    • E-Edition
      • This Week Newspaper
      • Archives
      • Local Shops
      • This is Westfield
      • Search the Archives
    • News
    • Opinions
    • Sports
    • Community
      • Life Events
      • Community Calendar
    • Arts & Entertainment
    • Obituaries
      • Submit an Obituary
    • Classified
    • Legals
    • Advertise
      • Advertorial
      • Paid Political
      • Sponsored Content
    • subscribe and/or renew
    • Contact
Scotch Plains Chooses New Recycler After Pick-Up Snafu
News
FRED T. ROSSI on
March 15, 2023
Scotch Plains Chooses New Recycler After Pick-Up Snafu

SCOTCH PLAINS — Last week’s recycling pick-up snafu was the result of a contractual dispute the weekend before the normal Monday and Tuesday pickups were scheduled to take place, according to Township Manager Al Mirabella.

Recycle Track Systems LLC (RTS) began collecting recyclable materials, first on a biweekly basis and then on a weekly basis, two years ago. Mr. Mirabella told the township council at its meeting March 7 that municipal officials were under the impression that “we exercised the third year” of that contract, but “they disagreed.” As a result, recycling put out on the south side for pickup on Monday remained uncollected, while north-side residents who were unaware of the pick-up problems then placed their recycling out for a Tuesday pickup that never materialized. Windy conditions during the day on Tuesday led to boxes and other paper products being blown into the streets along with cans, bottles and other plastic materials from knocked-over recycling bins, creating messy conditions throughout the township.

Mr. Mirabella said that, “in the interest of getting back on the road”— and avoiding litigation with RTS that he said could take “months or years” to resolve — he declared an emergency and entered into a short-term contract with Grand Sanitation for $38,000 per month, an arrangement that will remain in effect until bids are received for a more long-term contract. Mr. Mirabella said he spoke to the town administrator in Westfield, which uses Grand Sanitation, and reported that he had heard “nothing but high praise” for the company.

Grand Sanitation spent last Wednesday, Thursday and Friday collecting recycling from all areas of town before it reverts to a biweekly pick-up schedule. Mr. Mirabella said that, when bids for a longer-term arrangement are sought, if a weekly pick-up is affordable, he would pursue it, but for now, biweekly pickups are what is expected. The manager also praised the “remarkable” team effort among township staff in quickly resolving the recycling pick-up issue.

In other business at last week’s meeting — which was dominated for the first two-plus hours by a discussion of the possible turfing of the baseball field at Brookside Park — Mayor Joshua Losardo said he is talking with Rep. Thomas Kean, Jr. about whether some of the $626,000 federal grant awarded to the township to repair the Tempe covered bridge on Clover Lane can be used to assist refurbishments at some of the historic sites in town, such as the Frazee House and Shady Rest clubhouse, that are still undergoing renovations.

It is unlikely that the bridge, which was built in 1969 and closed to the public four years ago after being declared unsafe, will be able to be repaired, according to Mr. Mirabella. He said restoration will be “very difficult” given that “the footings are off-center” and “the wood is rotting,” adding that there is “nothing historic about that bridge.” Instead, it is probable that it will be removed and replaced with a new crossing that will provide safe access for children walking to and from school. But the $626,000 grant, announced late last year by then-Rep. Tom Malinowski, “may be more than we need” to address the bridge, Mr. Mirabella said, leading to discussions about diverting some of those funds to other historic projects.

ePaper
coogle_play
app_store
ePaper
coogle_play
app_store
ePaper
coogle_play
app_store
Most Read
Fanwood Woman Killed In House Fire
Main, News
Fanwood Woman Killed In House Fire
By KATIE MOEN 
Friday, July 25, 2025
FANWOOD -- A Fanwood woman tragically lost her life early Friday morning after a fire broke out her in her Kempshall Terrace home. A neighbor who atte...
this is a test
From a Table to a Title: The Spark That Ignited Westfield Girls Lacrosse
Sports
From a Table to a Title: The Spark That Ignited Westfield Girls Lacrosse
By Morgan Lang Hutter 
Thursday, July 17, 2025
How two moms and a determined community planted the seed of a program that three decades later, claimed its first state championshipNearly 30 years be...
this is a test
Lucinda Dowell
Obituaries
Lucinda Dowell
Thursday, July 24, 2025
Lucinda Dowell, Longtime Westfield Resident, Animal Lover and Professional Photographer Lucinda Dowell, 90, a long-time Westfield resident and profess...
this is a test
Cranford Blue Tops South Plainfield For Cal Ripken, Jr. 10U State Title
Sports
Cranford Blue Tops South Plainfield For Cal Ripken, Jr. 10U State Title
Thursday, July 17, 2025
The Cranford Blue baseball team ran the table to capture the Cal Ripken, Jr. 10U State Championship held at the Memorial Field Complex in Cranford on ...
this is a test
Latest Once-In-A-Century Storm Floods Area, Strands Motorists
Main, News
Latest Once-In-A-Century Storm Floods Area, Strands Motorists
By FRED T. ROSSI 
Thursday, July 17, 2025
SCOTCHPLAINS/FANWOOD— The flash flood warning alerts started lighting up smartphones and text messages at mid-day on Monday, something that has become...
this is a test
This site complies with ADA requirements

© Copyright The The Westfield Leader

  • Contact
  • Privacy
  • Accessibility Policy
This site complies with ADA requirements

© Copyright The The Westfield Leader