Town should be able to keep summer pickups, still save money

While going to once-aweek garbage pickups in East Brunswick will lead to a substantial savings, there are other things at stake here. Quality of life is an issue.

While garbage left out at this time of year for a week or even two (if you miss a pickup) is no major problem, June, July and August present a different scenario. You have a Friday pickup. You had a barbecue on Saturday, and it's 90 degrees outside. That cantaloupe that smelled so good a short time ago doesn't smell so nice anymore. Other things that were delicious are now drawing flies, and, yes, those bags are moving … I won't say why.

I once missed a summer pickup, and although everything was in bags, things got ugly. I sprayed the pail with insecticide and poured boiling water over it. I didn't want the poor hauler to feel as though his skin was crawling. People at work had similar disgusting experiences.

The volume of garbage increases by more than 25 percent after summer is over. Summer pickups are lighter — people are away. When negotiating with the hauler, that information is important. Summer-day pickups should cost less to replace in the schedule — less stops, people are out of town. Other than the Fourth of July, there are no major holidays.

We should still see a major savings and be able to continue summer pickups. It will smell better, be healthier and no one need see the vermin.
Anthony J. Riccobono
East Brunswick