My favorite electronics
Got new electronics over the holidays? Did you know the old ones must be recycled?
E-Waste alert - as of Jan. 1, you can't drop off old televisions, computers, e-readers or any other electronics at the Rock Avenue transfer station. PMUA officials are working on the issue, but meanwhile residents are advised to use other recycling programs in Union County or see whether stores accept electronics for recycling by manufacturers.
PMUA Executive Director Daniel Mejias said Tuesday the authority may have an answer by February on E-Waste disposal. The authority was looking at a 30-cent per pound charge, which equates to $600 per ton. Based on last year's tonnage, he said, it would cost the PMUA $90,000 for disposal.
Fanwood's recycling center takes electronics, but asks for a small donation per item. Among other stores, Best Buy has a recycling program.
The E-Waste dilemma was among many items covered at the PMUA meeting.
- Mejias said the transfer station passed a DEP compliance inspection, rating 100 percent on keeping normal hours, receiving only licensed materials and not exceeding a 280-ton daily limit.
- CFO Duane Young said the authority had stabilized rates and has not had an increase in five years. In fact, there had been a couple of rate decreases, he said, but called it "unrealistic" to think the trend could continue in light of rising costs.
- Mejias said the authority's goal is to increase shared services contracts to offset operating costs. The authority has not lost any of its outside contracts and is seeking more.
- PMUA commissioners approved introduction of the 2016 solid waste and sewer budgets, with passage expected next month. (A call to the authority earlier Tuesday revealed that there will be 20 days' public notice before a rate hearing.)
- In a community outreach project, the PMUA gave out 177 pairs of gloves to children whose parents brought them to the Front Street office. Mejias said the effort was "well-received."
-The authority may replace small pickup trucks in its fleet with hybrid vehicles that can use alternate fuels, Mejias said, "being mindful of the carbon footprint."
- In an end-of-year sewer report, Mejias said 27.44 miles were flushed and 18 miles "televised," referring to use of a robotic camera to examine and assess the interior of sewer lines. Of 101 sewer calls, he said, only three pertained to the PMUA.
- The question of an appointment to the Plainfield Area Regional Sewerage Authority is unresolved. (Mayor Adrian O. Mapp and the City Council are in dispute over who has the authority to appoint a PARSA representative.)
- A commemorative booklet is planned to mark the authority's 20th anniversary.
The authority will reorganize at its meeting next month, which is scheduled for 6 p.m. Feb. 9 at 127 Roosevelt Ave.
--Bernice
Did wages and salaries change and are there any proposed staff reductions. LAYOFFS?
ReplyDeleteUnder an item called "Position Control," there was mention of an ongoing hiring freeze.
DeleteUnder an item called "Position Control," there was mention of an ongoing hiring freeze.
DeleteI'M JUST GONNA DUMP MY STUFF ON COTTAGE PLACE
ReplyDeleteIt is remarkable that the Shared Service fee warrants increase and the Household collection fee remains constant? Or is it? In order to prevent the public from exercising its privilege of opting out of the PMUA system and having their household refuse collected by a private hauler the PMUA is compelled to maintain the household collection approximately equal to the fee charged by private haulers. Moreover, whereas the public can opt out of the household collection the Court has ruled that the public can not opt out of Shared Service. Repeated attempts to obtain an analysis of how the PMUA costs are proportioned between the Shared Service and Household have been fruitless. On inspection, it can been seen that the costs are disproportionate, weighed grossly in favor of Shared Services. At the last rate review the Auditor Consultant and Engineering Consultant declined to provide details in this regard. They offered broad brush obfuscations. Clearly they were complicit with the Authority. It will be interesting to observe when the next rate review is held whether the new Executive Director, Commissioners, and Consultants are willing to provide the justification for the lopsided increase. It remains my opinion that if the PMUA team were forthcoming, and appropriately proportioned the costs, the evidence would compel the PMUA to increase the Household collection fee significantly. This would result in a stampede to private haulers and the resulting loss of revenue might well cause the demise of the Agency. It should also be noted that the geniuses that created the Agency scheduled the Bond maturities so that they increased annually. For the next 6 or 7 years the Agency, and hence the public, must deal with the burden of these escalating obligations. Bill Kruse
ReplyDeleteThe last rate increase was 2010 so what are you talking about. There have been rate decrease since 2010. It doesn't matter though because some people are never sayisfied
DeleteI never got a rate decrease, but I didn't get a rate increase in the last two years either.
DeleteIf you OPRA a rate history like you do everything else, you will see the years since 2010 that there were decreases in rate. In all fairness to the PMUA, if you are going to tell a story state the true facts. Maybe Bernice has the years the rate decreased?
DeleteThree strikes you're out. Bill is saying the amount attributed to the Shared Service Fee for common areas has been increased disproportionately relative to residential and commercial fees, not that rates have increased. This basically uses the Shared Service fee, which you can't opt out of, to subsidize artificially low residential and commercial rates, and keep them competitive with private haulers. and customers less likely to seek alternative service. PMUA has never been upfront about its costs or tonnage figures, particularly the actual amounts generated by common public areas. The Board of Commissioners should want transparency and insist that Authority management put the numbers on the table, for once, for a change. Five years of steady or slightly lower rates speaks volumes about the bloated Watson era, and the lack of oversight in the public interest. The latest holdover status on the Board says the games at PMUA are not over yet.
DeleteThe several rate decreases over the past 5 years have been minimal. What I am talking about is the disproportionate amount of the Shared Service fee. My rough analysis indicates that if the costs of Household collection and Shared Service were properly analyzed that the Household collection would be approximately doubled and the Shared Service approximately 1/3 less. In addition I would remind you that a panel of people appointed from every District unanimously found that we Plainfielders are paying 250% more than neighboring communities with similar populations for trash collection. Consider the Shared Service; I believe it is now about $320 per year. This means that considering employee side tax deductions, and the fact that the sewer bill is no longer collected in property tax, depriving us of that deduction, the average guy has to make around $500 to cover this assessment. With 17% of Plainfield residents below the poverty level, and the larger part of the community living close to the bone. it would be nice if the PMUA could operate, if not at, at least close to the cost of a private hauler. As to my OPRA requests, you will be pleased to know I have given up. The one unanswered request which perhaps you as an employee can help me with is the unanswered one which asks for the analysis by which the Household and Shared fees are determined. Bill Kruse
DeleteBernice,
ReplyDeleteThanks for the notification about electronic waste. This now explains why electronic waste has been dumped blocks away from the transfer station and in Green Brook Park. One of the purposes of the PMUA years ago was to stop illegal dumping, but that does not seem to be the case.
As soon as this was posted it was found out that a PMUA notice had been given to the local resident for the illegally dumped electronic waste at the curbside on the city easement. The resident has 24 hours to remove item at curbside or face $25.00 bill per item from the PMUA. The residents in the vicinity of the transfer station are now facing an unfair burden. The PMUA inspector was just doing his job, and had no way of knowing that the resident had reported the illegal dumping to the Police Department the day before. The Police Department reported it to Public Works, and the items were awaiting pick up. Now the resident faces $50.00 in additional billing for the illegal dumping of electronic waste. I am certain that all parties involved will be able to come to an understanding and correct the situation in a mutually agreeable way. Thanks again Bernice for informing all of us of these ewaste rules.
DeleteEverything was resolved amicably and appropriately. All the PMUA employees were professional and courteous, and thank you so much for your service.
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