Landscaping and lawn contractors who perform work within the township may soon be required to register with West Windsor Township as part of a solution officials are considering in order to enforce stormwater regulations.
The issue regarding leaf and brush collection has been ongoing for about two years now, as officials contemplate various solutions to the problem.##M:[more]##
The township offers curbside leaf and brush collection in different zones every month. The issue stems from the timing of the collection. If township employees fall behind on pickups, residents fall behind, and some residents may put their yard waste out earlier than allowed.
“It’s kind of a practice that right after the brush and leaf collection happens, people will go out and put all their brush and leaves,” out to the curb, blocking the storm drains, said Business Administrator Chris Marion.
There are certain regulations, such as restrictions against putting leaves or brush out to the curb seven days prior to collection that also cause problems. Some residents complained their neighbors placed their yard waste out too soon, causing it to be unsightly, Marion said.
So, in an effort to manage the problem, the township, about two years ago, began notifying residents if they were not in compliance with the stormwater regulations, but even though no fines were issued, residents were still upset, Marion said.
During the Township Council’s March 10 meeting, Marion said the idea to require registration was discussed by township staff as a good way to ensure the contractors themselves know the rules and regulations.
Currently, Township Attorney Mike Herbert is reviewing a similar ordinance in Princeton Township for potential changes to West Windsor’s.
One issue that remains to be resolved is the type of penalties to landscapers, if any, for noncompliance. “I think in this case, it’s easier to manage the contractors themselves and hold them accountable for not complying with certain rules or regulations versus the homeowner, who may or may not pay attention to rules and regulations or the ordinances,” Marion said.
Councilwoman Heidi Kleinman said she thought the proposal was a good idea, but said the one issue she had with the matter is that there is no place in the township for residents to take their leaves, placing a burden on them.
Marion said officials have explored options with neighboring municipalities regarding drop-off sites for residents, but Lawrence Township officials already have agreements with Princeton Borough and Princeton Township and are not interested in pursuing an interlocal agreement with West Windsor. A site in Hamilton may be an issue of distance, which wouldn’t be a feasible option.
The township has an agreement with a site in Lawrence, where all the township-collected leaves and brush are brought. Previously, the township also had an agreement with Carnevale Disposal Company for the compost site on Alexander Road, where residents were able to drop off leaves and brush on their own. Last fall, however, in an agreement the council approved with the company, it was decided that leaves and brush would no longer be accepted at the site, as the township prepares to phase down the operation at the site as it is included in the area in need of redevelopment.
Moving forward, “the administration’s currently attempting to identify other locations for resident drop-off,” Marion said.
