Councilmember Responds to Letter Questioning Town Services, Waste Management, Compliance
To the Editor:
I appreciate the opportunity to address Cyril Kucera’s inquiries published in last week’s Town Topics regarding Sustainable Princeton’s report on the Climate Action Plan [“Raising Questions Regarding Town Services, Recycling, Garbage, Leaf Collection Rules,” Mailbox, October 30] and how Princeton is addressing waste management, environmental sustainability, and local compliance. Below I’ll answer the questions directly.
Why is the Municipality spending money on environmental studies and making service changes?
The Municipality is committed to providing essential services that protect the health and safety of our residents while remaining cost-effective and environmentally sustainable. With rising waste collection costs affecting towns across New Jersey, Princeton contracted with DeFeo Associates in 2021 to evaluate new, efficient waste management options. This led to our updated system with municipal trash carts and separate bulk waste collection, which has helped us contain costs.
Why is the Municipality reducing services? And why can’t landscape contractors place leaves at the curb line?
Princeton continues to offer both loose and bagged leaf pickup for residents, whether leaves are left by residents or their landscapers. The schedule for curbside placement of materials has not changed and is enforced to prevent storm drain blockages and improve safety for all road users.
Why isn’t recycling here administered like in Europe (glass, plastic, paper, cans)?
Princeton’s recycling program, provided by the Mercer County Improvement Authority, is subject to local processing capabilities and market demands over which the county and the municipality have limited influence. For years, the county had a dual-stream system but found that single-stream collection improved compliance and efficiency in our area.
Why are homeowners responsible for contractor compliance with equipment regulations?
Princeton’s Sustainable Landscaping Noise Ordinance holds property owners accountable for ensuring that landscape contractors comply with local regulations, including registration and equipment use. Homeowners, unlike contractors, are long-term stakeholders in our community. Requiring homeowners to ensure contractor compliance with municipal standards, as is done with our engineering and building codes, helps protect community health and environmental quality.
Why did the Municipality hire an “environmental cop?”
Our community compliance officer, like parking or police officers, ensures that ordinances, like those governing landscaper registrations, gas leaf blowers and waste management, are followed. However, education is a key priority of the community compliance officer, and one of their main goals is not only to gain compliance with the rules but to help residents understand these regulations and their importance to the health and safety of all.