So says the Plainfield Municipal Utilities Authority in its latest newsletter, which cites an improvement in recycling, but still too many violations. Inspections will be conducted for compliance.
PMUA will change its once-weekly, citywide pickup of recyclables to alternating weeks by zones starting in 2013. Trash pickups will also change in 2013 to twice-weekly by zones. Residents are advised to call (908) 226-2518 if they need to verify their zone.
If possible, a map of zones on the PMUA web site would be helpful. I always thought they followed the zones on the Public Works maps, but maybe not.
The City Council made an unprecedented change to having its agenda-fixing session on Thursday, Nov. 8; now PMUA has announced a schedule change to place its November meeting on the same night. The PMUA meeting is 6 p.m. at 127 Roosevelt Avenue and the City Council meeting is
PMUA sends newsletters to every household, but some people in my building just ignore them. Given the changes, if you think you are affected, make sure you read the newsletter. As of this writing, the new one is not on the "Newsletter" link at pmua.info but you can see the article on recyclables here.
--Bernice
The only problem with the zone maps is that the streets are laid out in Black Ink ( correct, few would expect anything less ) and the lines for the zones across the street map are in black ink so it's almost impossible to see the differences.
ReplyDeleteIf the zones were marked out in red, and it was scanned by a color copier and a pdf created from that then we could all tell easily what the zones are when we download or view on a computer or mobile device.
That's honestly been a frustration of mine for a few years because I admit, I am one of those people who needs to see that map a million times ( because I sure as hell am not smart enough to write it down ) seeing what zone I'm in before I'll remember it, lol.
It's a good strategy on paper: Teach the young and impressionable the virtues of recycling. Teach the old and in the way the power of a good threat. Hand out 1000 thousand dollar fines and you've got enough to pay off the management team that 'couldn't and quit' their $1 million bounty of payola. Slap 200 with the $250 fine and you reap enough to hand over some good time illegal compensation to the commissioners.
ReplyDeleteThe Dan, Dunn & Brown show rambles on Mondays and Thursdays. Sanders, Toliver & Mitchell, a slap-happy trio, will have to wait until Tuesday and Friday. Brokaw, every other Wednesday, holidays excluded.
In the words of the great and magnificant 22nd Jedi master, "Eke tu, Eke you!"
I think Alan is absolutely right. This looks like a way for the PMUA to pay for the egregious settlement that Dunn, Sanders, and the others voted to give to the retired executives. It will also give the PMUA Director the justification to hire more patronage friends of his and the mayor's and to have additional "inspectors" to go snooping and looking into your garbage. I guess their idea of furloughing workers won't fly, and we know how anti-union "Democrat" Malcolm Dunn is--unconscionable.
ReplyDeleteState law says that municipalities can fine between $250-$1,000 per infraction. If the PMUA is an "agent or instrumentality" of the city, it would make sense (to me) that the city would be the body that can set the rate for fines. Of course, it is so obtuse for the layperson to understand--the current PMUA Director could never give the council a straight answer (or decent legal counsel to the city council) on interpreting anything in the original agreement regarding the city's control over the authority.
Also, this looks like a way to still reap profits from those residents who have opted out--look closely at this phrase from the notice on the PMUA home page: "The ultimate goal is for every individual and entity in Plainfield (be they PMUA customers or those utilizing a private hauler) to always properly separate their recyclables from their standard household waste. Yet there still remain a large number of repeated infractions against the NJ recycling law, and pressure from the County and State to comply continues to increase emphatically."
"...be they PMUA customers OR THOSE UTILIZING A PRIVATE HAULER" (caps mine)
This suggests that they will be snooping through the yards of NON-PMUA customers as well, to fine and punish them. It seems to me that if folks have opted out, the PMUA coming onto their property would constitute trespassing. I think the state should get involved in this new attempt to squeeze money from Plainfield ratepayers--they've got to pay the settlement somehow, so I presume they decided, "Let's figure out another way to rip off Plainfield!"
Rebecca
And watch how they put them in the truck - my bet is that they will all be comingled. There will not be a truck that picks up cardboard and paper, and another that picks up bottles and containers. They all go in the same truck.
ReplyDeleteThis keeps proving my point that Plainfield is continually run by people who are really stupid when it comes to running a business.
I also wonder if they are going to target landlords?
ReplyDeleteHow can a landlord control how their tenants recycle?
Given half of Plainfield are renters, and those renters may not see/get the PUMA newsletter and/or may not care about recycling .. a nice $1000 fine to landlords in the city would reap the PMUA a tidy profit. They are the evil 1% after all, aren't they?
Want to bet they don't look in the ghetto's trash, but snoop around Sleepy Hollow?
Time for citizens to file a complaint with the state, take up a petition, put pressure on the Council/Administrtion to disband this group of greedy "for the people" "leaders".
If any "Agent" of the PMUA is found prowling on my property I will have him arrested. Threats, punishment, Draconian fines....a tactless approach. A continued display of the callous ignorance that permeates the mentality of the officials and commissioners in the PMUA organization.If anyone reading this has not OPTED OUT it is my hope that this latest threat inspires you to beat a path to 127 Roosevelt and take the time to submit the required papers to escape. Through the wisdom of our City fathers the PMUA is legally insulated from redress by any reasonably accepted standard. The only weapon the public has is to OPT OUT. If a sufficient number of people OPT OUT there will come a tipping point at which the organization will no longer be sustainable. The rates that they will be compelled to charge will reach a level that will spark an overwhelming public outcry.
ReplyDeleteThere is no question that separating recyclables is appropriate. But the idea that if, for example, someone's child, unknown to the parent, puts a newspaper in the garbage the parent will get smacked with a first offense $250 to $1000 fine is unconscionable. The Constitution prohibits unusual and excessive punishment. Maybe the Commissioners should have someone read it to them?
all I know... the PMUA wouldn't be like this if we had some honest "for the people" Democrats running the show... oh..awkward moment..
ReplyDeleteWow !!! Let's put the PMUA in charge of deliquent books at the Library. Raises for all bookworms!
ReplyDeleteSTOP TALKING/COMPLAINING ABOUT IT AND BE ABOUT DISBANNING THIS ORGANIZATION OF THUGS AND THEIVES. IF WE, THE CITIZEN CANNOT MOVE OUR LEADERS TO DISBAND THIS GROUP, THEN OPT OUT SO THEY FALL APART WITHOUT YOUR HARD EARNED MONEY TO SUSTAIN THEM.
ReplyDeleteI can't believe they are trying to regurgitate this garbage again. They tried this alternate week pick up before when the other bobbleheads were there and it didn't work, so you think they would come up with something new to fleece the flock, but wait, I guess they did, because this time, they are going to charge a fee for the privilege of attempting to utilize a system that they already know doesn't work. Obviously the bozo who came up with this plan the first time is still working there collecting a paycheck and probably will get a bonus for this brillant nonworking idea. Only in Plainfield does this kind of stuff fly because there is no accountability of any kind to or for anyone. While I'm not a big Christie fan, I wish he would set his sights on Plainfield because we have a major no account administration that is only concerned with themselves and the hell with everyone else.
ReplyDelete