Charge
for Construction Debris
By
Chris Neidenberg
Some
time in 2003, the borough will end its policy for accepting recyclable
construction debris for free -- and start imposing charges.
At
a recent Council work session, members agreed with Deputy Mayor for
Community Affairs Martin Etler's push to significantly reform the way Fair
Lawn handles this category of solid waste.
Recycling
Coordinator Ron Lotterman, who manages the collection program, joined
Etler in endorsing the change.
The municipality plans on ending unlimited free acceptance of any
materials -- at the recycling center -- generated by the
building or remodeling of homes.
It
directed Acting Borough Manager Joanne Kwasniewski to propose a formula
for assessing charges in the form of tickets residents will have to buy.
This formula could be based on the amount of debris.
Thus,
whereas residents have been able to cart this debris to the recycling
center on weekends at no cost, they must soon adopt to a "pay as you
go" system. Using a hypothetical example, the council discussed
possibly charging $35 a ticket.
However,
the change will not affect the borough's ongoing policy of offering free
curbside collection twice yearly.
"My
recommendation is that we stop (accepting materials for free) because
we're bleeding and bleeding, really," Etler told his colleagues.
"Costs
have constantly risen," said Lotterman, who projected that Fair
Lawn's total bill - just for handling this matter - will be approximately
$40,000 in 2002.
The
coordinator recommended a system to charge residents for tickets while
also retaining the free curbside
program as an option. The council agreed to retain curbside service. Thus,
residents looking to avoid charges could opt to wait for borough trucks to
visit their blocks, according to the borough's published schedule.
Lottermann
suggested that some Fair Lawners discarding the materials have too
liberally interpreted the borough's existing stated policy of taking
"a small amount of" building debris. The municipality has never set a formal
limit.
"The
problem is the definition of a small amount," he said. "The
residents are going by their definition of what a small amount is. We have
nothing to go by."
Councilman
Vic Amato urged taking a reasoned approach that does not "punish the
average person" aided by the free service.
"I
think you're going to get some angry people in town," warned Amato,
referring to the potential fallout which could develop. "I think the
average person should be able to go there once or twice a year to dump
debris into the recycling bin."
Yet
Mayor David L. Ganz and Deputy Mayor Steve Weinstein agreed that changes
must be made, especially since the borough will need to look at every
avenue for saving money (and minimizing the property tax burden) in 2003.
The council is apparently anticipating a drop in local aid from Trenton
next year.
"This
(free acceptance) is a luxury," said Weinstein.
"We'll
have a pay as you go system," vowed the mayor, pointing out that he
paid a private company to remove the building debris from his Ryder Road
home, because he did not want taxpayers to assume the cost.
"We'll
keep the dumpster there," said the mayor," and if you want to
use it, then you'll get charged."