Reduced trash pickup falls under 'penny wise, pound foolish'

The plan to reduce trash collection in East Brunswick to once per week is a misstep. While efforts by the mayor, administration and Township Council to save tax dollars are admirable and appreciated, this particular proposal is a very bad idea. In aggregate, the proposed savings on the order of $365,000 per year seems significant, but the cost of this second weekly collection to the average household amounts to only 30-40 cents per week.

A large number of households already put out several trash receptacles per collection. I'm currently also doing glass, plastic and paper recycling, so the thought of having to double up on trash warehousing is quite disturbing.

The environmental benefits of one collection are also largely offset by the resulting increase in food supply to rodents and insects on our properties, increased decomposition odor, and the fact that traffic on our roads will be impacted by slower-moving garbage trucks picking up twice the volume in a single run. Forgetting a pickup date, as we all may do occasionally, now results in a one-week accumulation. Missing a once-per-week collection results in an unmanageable twoweek volume. A reduction in trashcollection frequency could further lead to increased illegal dumping in commercial containers and in wooded and undeveloped parks and preserves.

It has been noted that many other municipalities have gone to once-per-week collection. East Brunswick has always enjoyed enhanced home-ownership desirability because of the way it differentiates itself from other communities. To lessen our standards in this case is far from an accomplishment. The second trash collection is a bargain of bargains for most homeowners and a highly valued service.

My mother uses the expression "Penny wise, pound foolish." I can think of no better example than this proposal.
Gregory J. DiLalo Sr.
East Brunswick