The Blame Game is on After Residents Call Out City for not Picking Up Recycling

NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

A mixture of recyclables has been piling up on Newark's streets with some residents waiting weeks for pickups. The shortage of services stems from the city not having a contractor after choosing to no longer work with the current service provider when the most recent emergency contract expired July 31. Newark thought they had lined up a new provider however after review found they were unable to meet city standards leaving them without an immediate option for collection.

While the city council searches for a new contractor, confusion has set in about collection efforts. Newark has asked for help from its current garbage contractor but there have been reports that employees are commingling both trash and recyclables. Mixing the two is against state law. City officials said workers were being disciplined in cases where they combined pickups into one truck.

Wayne DeFeo, consulting solid waste coordinator for the Essex County Utilities Authority, said solid waste plants can reject loads if they have too many recyclables in it.

"Because if they don't, it's possible that they can be fined," DeFeo said.

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