Recently I have been on FB
participating in discussions about our Brush Pick-Up Program. There are some that reject my opinion that
our Brush Pick-Up program is more than reasonable. So I decided to do just a little research on
brush programs from other towns to see where Lawrence Township fits in with
providing this service to its residents.
The following are summaries of the programs of other towns. NOTE:
Please feel free to visit the website for these towns to get a full picture
if you are uncomfortable relying on my summary.
Ewing: Provides curbside brush pick up for 2 months in the spring for
residents. Leaves and yard waste are
required to be put in bags or tied and
bundled as appropriate. Branches and
limbs should be cut in 4’ lengths and
tied in bundles with a total weight not
exceeding 50 pounds.
Hamilton: Brush and branches pick up monthly except for
November, December and January. Placed
curbside brush and branches are to be
cut in 4’ lengths, tied and bundled
or in containers and must be no more
than 50lbs. No stumps.
Princeton: Brush, logs and leaves picked up March
through November (except June) once a month.
Piles limited to 3’ x 3’,
branches not more than 6” in
diameter. It looks like leaves must
be bagged but I can’t tell from the website.
Hopewell: Brush is picked up 2 times a year (once in May and once in Sep/Oct). Brush pile size
is 4’ wide by 4’ high by 15’ long. Brush
may NOT be left in the street, but on property near curb (but not on the sidewalk)
and in the front of the property. Limbs
and brush must be placed with all butts
(6” in diameter max) facing the road.
Small twigs must be bagged. No tree stumps, trunks and limbs in excess of
6” will be collected.
West Windsor: Brush, leaves and yard debris (collected
together) may not be placed out on street more than 7 days before pick up. Tree
trunks and logs not exceed 6” in width
and 18” in length. Size not more
than 5’ in length. No collection in January & February.
Plainsboro: Brush is picked up 4 times per year between March and October. It does NOT include leaves, roots, stumps,
tree logs. If the brush pile contains
any of these items, the pile will NOT be collected. Branches not longer than 6’ and no more than 5” in diameter. Must not be put out on street more than 7 days before the zone pick up date.
East Windsor: Brush is collected once a month. Limbs or branches not more than ½” to 6” in
diameter but may be any length. Pile
(with no maximum length) must be placed between
sidewalk and curb, not on roadways.
Chipping should be placed butt
(thickest) end to the left when observed from the road looking toward the
home. Piles laid in parallel and not in
tangled heaps. Vines, briars, thorns and
other vegetative waste with stem size less than
½” in diameter or less than 3’ in length must be tied in bundles and placed
with household trash. PW will not pick
up any chipping that is improperly put at curbside or contains non-chipping
items. NOTE: There are much more requirements, but I am
running out of space here!!!
Robbinsville: Brush picked up curbside once a month from
April through November 11. All brush cut to a maximum length of 6’ and a maximum diameter of 6”. Small
twigs must be placed in open buckets and containers near the brush
piles. Logs, stumps, evergreen with
roots or debris from land as well as commercial trimmings will NOT be collected
with brush. If you hire a tree company
or landscaper to remove a tree, they are responsible to remove debris,
including branches, trunks and stumps.
PW will NOT collect the voluminous amount of brush created by tree
removal. Brush piles placed in an
orderly manner with all butts 6” max in
diameter facing roadside. The brush
pile may not be greater than 4’. high
and 15’ wide and is limited to one pile.
Must be place at curb not more than 2
days before scheduled pick up.
Freehold (just because it makes Lawrence look great! ...shameless): Brush
collection 1 time per year. Brush placed at curb (not in the street) by 6 AM on the first day of the scheduled
week. No call backs. Maximum length of 8’ and maximum diameter of 8” and should not exceed 8 cubic yards (approximately the size of a mid-size
automobile). Grass, rocks, leaves,
stumps, construction debris, fence posts as well as commercial trimmings will
not be collected. Brush pile put out not more than 2 days scheduled pick up.
Lawrence: Brush collection monthly from April through
November. Brush pile placed on street curbside in front of the property. Tree trunks and limbs in excess of 6” in
diameter will not be collected. Limbs
should be cut to 3’ or less in length. Brush pile not larger than 3’ high and
not more than 12’ in length. All tree
stumps are property owner’s responsibility.
Leave piles placed on street curbside in front of property in separate
pile. Brush piles should be put out the
Saturday or Sunday immediately preceding the week of the scheduled zone
collection.
I will leave it to the reader to
decide where Lawrence is situated among the towns providing the service to
their residents.
3 comments:
Reasonable, sure, but there are still things to make it easier for homeowners. The enforcement is very prompt and respectful. I was told that aesthetics were the reason that I had to move the pile from the street, but I could pile it next to the street (or put all the brush on the roof of my car and take it to the ecological center, if one can get there when it’s open.) Go figure how that looks better. I put my pile out during my zone week, still told it was too late.
Seems easier to put it in the trash bins. Now, If only enforcement of the 25mph speed limit on my street was as vigorous. I’d be safer as I manage the pile in the street.
Chip Cash, I am sorry that you were told "aesthetics" from a Township employee. That is not the reasoning behind making sure brush piles don't remain on the roads for weeks at a time. If you have been following the community conversation, you would have known that there is a public safety issue and a storm water management issue. Some people scoff at both of those concerns as meaningless. Now, of course, your pile alone doesn't present the problem...but your pile plus everyone else who doesn't abide by the Ordinance's rules, does cause the problem... And, it is true, it doesn't look for a community to continually have large piles of brush on the streets languishing for weeks at a time.
Lawrence Township's Program is GREAT and 100% Reasonable!
Brush can't be on the Streets for Too Long a Time and Storm Drains certainly Can't Be clogged!
Actually, if I have a Lot, I might Actually put Mine Out on the Street the Thursday and Friday before Pickup Week.
I'm Sure that the Department of Public Works only Wants to Be Collecting Piles on Your Street Once a Month, so If You "Forgot" to Get Everything Out, Before Your Area's Collection Week, I'm sure that You can Wait until the Next Month to Put it Out!
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