SOMERDALE PUBLIC WORKS

2022 FALL & WINTER RECYCLING SCHEDULE

DPW – normal operating hours

6:30am to 2:30pm Monday - Friday | 856-783-4648

Leaf Collection – Leaf collection will start on or about October 31st and will continue thru Monday December 19th. Leaves must be raked between the sidewalk and curb. Leaves must be free of all other debris (branches, trash, animal waste, etc.) Due to storm water regulations leaves or any other debris must not be placed within 10 feet of a storm water inlet. Collection will be approximately every 7 to 10 days (weather permitting) once the leaf-vac passes your residence the entire town will be done before returning to your street. If you wish to bag the leaves, THEY MUST BE IN PAPER BIODEGRADABLE BAGS-NO PLASTIC BAGS, place these bags curbside to be collected on the next scheduled yard waste collection. Do not park vehicles on or near leaf piles, this will result in the pile remaining to the next collection.

Yard Waste Recycling – The last weekly collection will be Tuesday October 31st. Starting in November collection of yard waste will be done once per month, November through March on the last Monday of the month. All waste must be in open containers or paper bio-degradable bags only. No collection after a Monday holiday until the next scheduled pick-up day.

Tree Branches/Brush – During leaf collection season, brush will only be picked-up when time and manpower permits.

Electronic Recycling – No television sets or any e-waste material we be picked up if it has been taken apart. Once a television set has the tube broken it is considered hazardous waste and becomes the homeowner’s responsibility for disposal. The public works cannot handle these hazardous items and they will not be picked up. Please call 856-783-6320 to schedule a pickup for ALL electronics and for any questions concerning this program.

Snow Removal – Borough ordinance states that sidewalks must be cleared of snow within 24 hours immediately after the end of the storm. When shoveling or using a snow blower to remove snow from your property, do not put the snow back into the street. The public works department asks that you wait until the roadway is cleared from curb to curb before clearing the edge of your driveway and when plowing is imminent that all vehicles be removed from the roadway when possible. Watch for a more detailed diagram in the winter newsletter.

Note** Please remember, do not put any material including, single stream recycling (paper, containers, etc.), leaves, or vegetative yard waste in plastic bags for disposal at any time!! Thank you for your continued support to make our recycling programs a success!!

Please refer to our collection calendar for a more detailed collection schedule.

From The Office Of Emergency Management

The Office of Emergency Management is utilized in times of need. Examples are floods, major snow storms, tornados, etc. We are always putting plans into place and reviewing the plans. We also look into possible ways of avoiding preventable hazards.

This office is always looking for help!! Volunteer positions are available. If you think this is something that you can help with, please call David Marx, coordinator, at 856-783-6320 ext. 2100.

If we have a snow storm this winter, please put all vehicles in your driveway (if possible). This will make plowing the streets easier. If your property has a fire hydrant on it, please clear around it to make it accessible in case of an emergency. Also, it is against Borough Ordinance to shovel snow into the street.

No Wipes In The Pipes

The biggest sources of sewer backups are rags and debris, mostly flushable wipes.

Flushable baby wipes and sani-wipes: No matter what’s on the label, “flushable” wipes do not disintegrate in water as quickly as toilet tissue does. The wipes do not break down quickly enough for the system to handle the high volumes being flushed. Their clothlike material block sewer lines, clog equipment and increase the boroughs’ maintenance and repair costs. Our sewers are designed to dispose of very specific things.

DO NOT flush these items down the toilet

• Medicine patches, pills, tablets

• Dental Floss • Cigarette Butts • Plastic wrappers

• Dirty liquid from wet vacuum - contains clumps of carpet fibers.

• Cotton balls or Q-Tips • Incontinence pads

Human waste and toilet tissue are the only products the wastewater system was designed to handle. As a Borough of Somerdale resident this affects you because continued abuse of our sewer system contributes to system failures and increased operation and maintenance costs. With everyone’s help the Borough of Somerdale can limit the number of sewer back-ups due to blockages in the system thereby eliminating the need for costly clean-ups and possible contamination of our waterways and endangerment of public health.

Somerdale Human Relations Commission Has A New Member

At the January Somerdale Re-Organization meeting, Tyiesha Scott was sworn in as a new member of the Human Relations Commission. Councilman Larry Sefchick swore her in, while her husband John and her daughter Jalynn ( holding the Bible ) were there to support her. Tyiesha will be great addition to the HRC, her enthusiasm and dedication will be an asset to our community.

The Borough of Somerdale would like to thank Ed Kain for his many years of service as a member of council. Ed started on council January 1, 2005 and chose not to run for re-election, ending his time with us on December 31, 2022. Ed has been a vital part of our community, helping to boost the economic development in our community and make Somerdale a better place to live. Our community is better for having him be a part of it and grateful for all he has done!

Somerdale Fire Department

The Officers and Members of the Somerdale Fire Department would like to wish you a happy and healthy new year. During the winter, please make sure to take care of your sidewalks, driveways and if you have a fire hydrant nearby, please dig it out for us. Water supply to extinguish house fires is critical, and it would take extra time to locate and then dig hydrants out to connect hoses.

We have responded to 394 calls in 2022. We have over 1,000 man hours of training, and continue to do more. Fourteen members complete New Jersey State Firefighter 2 Course, conducted by Salem County Fire Academy at our station with the “live fire” at their facility. With the fire academies opening back up after restrictions have been lifted from the pandemic, we have sent members to a multitude of courses. Our driver training program is a continuous process, always trying to maintain our skills as well train new driver / operators.

In 2022 we were awarded two separate grants. One from the American Water Company that was used for battery operated portable lights to provide for scene safety. The second, we were just recently notified that we will receive state of New Jersey American Rescue Plan in the amount of $34,000. These funds will be utilized to purchase new turn out gear to better protect our members along with an equipment sanitizer.

As we begin the New Year, we are looking forward to begin preparing for our 100th Anniversary of service to our community, which we will celebrate in 2024. We will have various events throughout 2024 to mark the occasion with our community.

The Somerdale Fire Department would like to thank everyone that supported our various fund raisers; your contributions are greatly appreciated. We are a registered non-profit (501C-3) organization, along with being 100% volunteer; we have been hampered with our fundraising efforts last year, as everyone has been affected. Plans are underway to be able to conduct additional fund raisers. We have also started an official Venmo Account for convenience. @Somerdale-Fire Department