Cost Causes Edison to Cancel Free Leaf Bag Program, But Woodbridge is Still Giving Bags Away for Free

The leaves are just starting to fall, so it's time for raking and bagging. And speaking of bagging, Woodbridge is still handing out free leaf bags.

"We make the bags available free of charge," said township spokesman John Hagerty.

The township gives out approximately 300,000 leaf bags during the course of the annual program, Hagerty said.

Residents aren't limited to the number of bags they can obtain if the number is reasonable. "We try to accomodate people with what they need," Hagerty said.

While Woodbridge is still continuing with the program, neighboring Edison has discontinued handing out the free bags.

Edison Mayor Antonia Ricigliano decided to cancel the township's program because of the financial cost in hard economic times.

"The leaf bag program that we have enjoyed for many years has been cancelled due to economic realities," according to a notice on the top of the Edison Township website. The notice estimates that by not handing out the bags, the township and taxpayers will save $102,266.

That includes $75,000 for leaf bag purchases, with the rest coming from employee costs including overtime to hand out the free bags.

Hagerty didn't have the cost of the Woodbridge program readily available. He said, though, that there is no overtime involved in the Woodbridge program. "Employees hand out the bags during the course of their regular duties," he said.

In Woodbridge, the bags are being handed out by the Dept. of Public Works at the following times and locations:

• Oct. 19, 5 pm to 8 pm, Evergreen Center, Colonia
• Oct. 20, 5 pm to 8 pm, JFK High School, Iselin
• Oct. 21, 5 pm to 8 pm, Avenel Park
• Oct. 22, 9 am to 1 pm, Woodbridge Community Center and Hopelawn Fire Dept.
• Oct. 29, 9 am to 1 pm, Woodbridge Community Center 

If residents need more bags or miss the in-town pickups, the bags can be obtained at the Keasbey Public Works Center, Hagerty said.