Resident responds to trash talk

I am saddened to have to agree with reader M.J. Fletcher regarding "the filth" in Brick Township ("Resident: We're Filthy People," March 30).

In my 21 years of living in this township, I have to say I have seen some pretty disturbing things when it comes to trash discard and removal. People will put out all manner of mattresses, furniture, even toilets and never give the township Public Works Department a call.

They sometimes make no effort to consolidate or dismantle materials they are discarding. I am a resident of Cedarcroft and have personally witnessed these articles on the streets, sometimes for months at a time. Some people will wait for a holiday such as Thanksgiving or Easter and lay half the contents of their garage curbside when pickup isn't scheduled for an entire workweek.

I don't quite understand if it is a public relations problem or why it is, but people are seemingly unaware or uncaring to the fact that a simple phone call to public works will arrange a nongarbage pickup.

By exercising a little consideration, one can make a call a day or two before a designated pickup day, put articles out the night before pickup, and thereby eliminate the need to have them lingering for days, let alone months on end. Given a chance, the system does work.

Ignorance and slovenliness on the part of the people discarding such materials is compounded by the fact that despite retaining regular trash and recycling removal personnel in the area twice a week, no employee or supervisor is inclined or able to dispatch a pickup either. They too are guilty of ignoring these eyesores. Complicating things further, residents seemingly act in such a manner with impunity. Our township Code Enforcement person, (yes, one singular person) must be understandably overwhelmed.

A little common sense on the part of residents would go a long way, and yes, if a public works employee sees these eyesores, it would be helpful if they also could intervene. Perhaps a public relations campaign giving people the telephone number would be helpful.

I would also like to see regulation regarding the inappropriate use of driveways and lawns for warehousing mile high cords of wood, (this is not Montana, it is largely a residential community) and all but abandoned vehicles and boats. All manner of trailers, commercial landscaping or contracting equipment, even off-duty police criminal investigation unit vehicles mar an otherwise scenic landscape. In some instances these vehicles have the potential to block emergency vehicle passage.

Contrary to the prevailing view, a driveway is not a boat slip although admittedly, this is far less egregious an eyesore than some of the aforementioned. We can all do our part to assist in keeping Brick Township an affordable and clean place to live. A little consideration and common sense can go a long way. Brick Township Public Works Department phone number is (732) 451-4062.

K. Essig

Brick