New Jersey town pushes to limit hours of operation for solid waste companies

Officials on the Hillsborough Township Committee in Hillsborough, New Jersey have reintroduced a 2016 ordinance that restricts when solid waste companies can operate. The ordinance was proposed Jan. 10 and according to an article at centraljersey.com, is aimed at preventing the use of loud garbage trucks during hours when most residents are asleep.

According to the article, action by the committee stems residents complaints about garbage collection waking them up as early as 4 a.m.

When first introduced in 2016, then Mayor Frank DelCore, tabled the action until feedback and consideration from the township's health officer and township administrator could be obtained.

The original ordinance called for all solid waste collection to take place no earlier than 7 a.m. and no later than 10 p.m. Under the newly introduced ordinance, however, the starting time was moved back to 5 a.m. Officials reportedly did not explain why they changed the time.

Companies could be fined up to $2,000 or imprisonment for no longer than 90 days or both in the event that a company or individual fails to comply with its restrictions. Each day that officials find a person or company
violating the ordinance, a “separate and distinct offense” will be charged, according to the article.

The proposed ordinance also calls for a “written record, log, bill or document evidencing receipt of service” from a waste collection agency for the previous month, as well as proof that the solid waste was taken to a proper facility for disposal.