Township To Determine Recycling Department's Future

This Thursday, the Mahwah Town Council is slated to consider potential changes to the township’s recycling department. Over the past few months, township administration has put out several bids for private recycling companies to pick up Mahwah’s recycling. It is currently picked up by the township’s .

Last week, urging residents to attend Thursday night’s meeting to find out the details of the new plan. According to the flier, some DPW workers may face layoffs if the new plan is passed by the township council.

“No matter how many people would be laid off, it would be too many,” Mahwah resident and DPW spokesperson Marc Bracciodieta said. “The town would be laying off people who grew up in town, who live in town, and who volunteer for the town.”

Of the 25 DPW workers employed by the township, Bracciodieta said seven work in the Recycling Department. However, he said those employees are also utilized in other aspects of DPW work, like snow plowing and leaf collection, when needed.

Mayor Bill Laforet said he will present the plan to the town council Thursday night before commenting on any specific details about it. “That is the normal procedure, we always present to the council first.”

He also said he “absolutely encourages any interested members of the public to attend Thursday night’s meeting,” which starts at 8 p.m. at .

Bracciodieta said he does not know the specifics of the new plan, but “with a decision as big as [the possible] privatization of recycling, we feel the public should know what’s happening.”

Last week, the DPW Union released a flier attacking the potential impacts of Laforet’s plan, and township policies regarding the Mahwah Police Department. “At the time, the entire membership voted for that flier, but in hindsight we realized it wasn’t what we wanted to do,” Bracciodieta said. “We are extremely sorry to any police personnel offended by the original flier.”

The union released a new flier (which is attached to this article as a PDF) Sunday.

DPW workers are planning to address the council about the issue Thursday night, Bracciodieta, who has worked for the department for 5 years, said. “We hope residents come out to find out what the real story is on the future of recycling is.”

Check Patch Friday morning for the results of Thursday night’s Council meeting.

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