Newark Will Fight Trash, Litter In City With Free Dumpsters

NEWARK, NJ — Newark is trying to “fight trash and litter” in the city with free dumpsters, which will be available to local residents and community groups.

Newark city officials announced the effort Tuesday. It will take place between July 23 and Sept. 24.

Dumpsters and trailers will rotate through all five wards of the city. Residents will be provided with opportunities to dispose of trash on non-pick-up days at centralized points.

Here’s what you need to know, according to a statement from the office of Mayor Ras Baraka:

“Dumpsters will be deployed in each ward, and moved around from week to week, enhancing their access. The dumpster locations will be announced on Newark’s social media pages, NWK TV, and through the Newark’s People’s Assembly as the respective clean-up approaches. Cleaning supplies, such as trash bags, brooms, rakes, and shovels will be made available to residents in every neighborhood. Newark employees, community organizers, organizations, and residents are invited to join in this collaborative effort.”

The dumpster deployment will kick off at two staging areas in the city’s South Ward on Saturday, July 23:

• Bo Porter Recreational Center on Lyons Avenue
• Clinton Avenue Sound Stage on Clinton Avenue, between Peshine Avenue and Jelliff Avenue

The clean-ups will continue every Saturday in different wards until Saturday, Sept. 24.

“The Department of Public Works is committed to beautifying Newark by acting against uncollected and illegally dumped trash and debris in all five wards, while meeting our residents’ needs,” Public Works Director Craig Smith said.

“We also remind residents of the changes in the [city] ordinance, which will enable them to use larger receptacles to put out trash, require trash to be properly bagged, and the containers to have attached lids,” Smith said.

Mayor Baraka also supported the dumpster deployment plan, exhorting the city’s residents and community groups to join the effort.

“A cleaner Newark starts with each of one of us,” Baraka said. “We need our residents, organizations, and other groups to join us in our efforts to clean up our city. Following the ordinance and keeping our streets litter-free, will keep our neighborhoods healthy and improve the quality of life for our residents.”

“Together, through collaboration, we will create a cleaner Newark,” Baraka said.

People or groups who would like to participate in the city-wide clean-ups can contact Tyreek Rolon at rolont@ci.newark.nj.us or call (973) 508-4338.

GARBAGE IN NEWARK: THE RULES

Newark officials noted that there have been some recent changes to the city’s trash ordinances. Some major changes include:

• It is prohibited to place any plastic bags containing trash or recycling on ground, sidewalks, or curbs. Trash and recycling must be placed in a suitable receptacle
• The receptacle is defined as an iron or plastic barrel with a maximum capacity of 65-gallons. This is an increase over the previous maximum of 30 gallons
• There shall be no loose garbage in the receptacles. All garbage must be bagged and placed in the receptacles.
• Solid waste shall be placed in plastic bags with a minimum of 1.2 millimeters thick to prevent them from tearing and ripping when full
• The use of plastic grocery bags for storing and disposing refuse is prohibited
• All receptacles must have attached lids
• Property owners are responsible for providing their structures and apartment houses of more than three dwelling units with receptacles

Several parts of the city’s ordinance remain unchanged, officials said. They include:

• Residents are reminded not to mix garbage with recyclables. Contaminated items will be rejected, which may lead to issuance of a ticket and action in Newark Municipal Court.
• Trash is picked up in Zone A on Mondays and Thursdays, and in Zone B on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
• Paper recycling is picked up in Zone A on Mondays and Zone B on Tuesdays. Glass/bottle recycling is picked up in Zone A on Thursdays and Zone B on Fridays. Keep all garbage and recycling properly covered.
• Recycling containers can be picked up at the Department of Public Works at 62 Frelinghuysen Avenue, Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.
• Styrofoam, plastic bags, takeout food containers, pizza boxes, aluminum foil, and shredded paper will NOT be recycled. Do not use plastic bags for recyclables.
• Yard waste must be placed in biodegradable, brown bags. Fill these bags up with branches, small bushes, and weeds. The bags must be placed outside between 6 p.m. and 10 p.m. the night before zone scheduled collection. Zone A yard waste is picked up on the third Wednesday of the month. Zone B yard waste is collected on the fourth Wednesday of the month.

City officials said that violators of the ordinance could be subject to action in Newark Municipal Court. Upon conviction, penalties can include:

• First Offense - $100
• Second Offense - $200
• Third Offense - $350 and/or up to 90 days of community service
• Fourth and subsequent offenses - $1,500 fine, and/or up to 90 days of community service and discontinuance of solid waste collection until compliance is met

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