Category Archives: Public Works
Celebrating National Infrastructure Month, Beginning Leaf Collection Season
By Joe Scavuzzo, Director of Pennsauken Public Works
November is Critical Infrastructure Security and Resilience Month, a nationwide effort to raise awareness and reaffirm the commitment to keep our country’s critical infrastructure safe and strong. We often overlook critical systems until they fail, immediately impacting our lives. Utilities, like water, electric, and sewer, are the first that come to mind, but also include roads and communication. With all things being tied to the internet, there is a host of effort put in place to keep the digital security of these systems intact.
Introducing A New Curbside Leaf Collection Schedule
By Joe Scavuzzo, Director Of Pennsauken Public Works
This article marks the beginning of a new and improved leaf pile collection operation at Public Works. In response to resident requests for a curbside leaf pile collection schedule and sign posting, the Township has created a program that is currently advertised on the Township’s website and social media accounts; the Public Works Facebook page; and this article.
Important Repairs Made On River Road Intersection
Last week, the Camden County Department of Public Works milled and repaved a section of road at the intersection of River Road and Derousse Avenue in Pennsauken after learning the area was in immediate need of repair.
A Time for Giving: AFSCME Collecting Toys for St. Christopher’s Children’s Hospital
By Rey Rivera, President for AFSMCE Local 2278
The Pennsauken Public Works Department and AFSCME Local 2278 would like to welcome everyone to join us in donating for our yearly toy drive. We will be collecting new unwrapped toys for the boys and girls at St. Christopher’s Children’s Hospital. All gifts will be hand delivered by council members of Local 2278 to the St. Christopher’s Pediatric Cancer wing.
Leaf Collection Season Begins For The Public Works Department
By Joe Scavuzzo, Director, Department of Public Works
This article marks the beginning of leaf collection operations at Public Works.
Our crews have begun the process of driving each street of town in search of piles of leaves. It is highly encouraged that you bag your leaves whenever possible. However, there are parts of town, where the density of large, mature trees makes bagging your leaves prohibitive, requiring the Department of Public Work’s collection efforts. The main reason we encourage residents to bag leaves is to protect our storm water inlets along our streets from becoming clogged, preventing the flow of water from the street into the storm water system. In addition to this, any fall breezes that come through won’t blow that leaf pile back onto your lawn or all over the street! The bagged leaves that are collected by South Jersey Sanitation on Wednesdays are taken to Smith Orchards for recycling. Each year, the Township compiles a tonnage report based off of the yard debris collected, similar to the white goods collected and our annual recycling collection; and receives credit towards our annual recycling grant.
Public Works Handling Friday’s Trash/Recycling Route, As Seaside Waste Fails To Provide Trucks
By Frank Sinatra, AAP Editor
In a social media post today, Pennsauken’s Department of Public Works announced that their staff are handling trash and recycling collection on Friday, May 28, because Seaside Waste, the company contracted to provide this service to the Township, has failed to provide any trucks today.
“SJ Sanitation/Seaside Waste has no (zero) trucks to send Pennsauken today (Friday),” the Public Works Department wrote in an online statement. “With the promising hybrid approach that almost kept Thursday’s routes on-schedule, it is an understatement to say that your Public Works Department is disappointed.”
Pennsauken’s Public Works To Collect Yard Debris On May 9
By Frank Sinatra, AAP Editor
Due to South Jersey Sanitation’s failure to collect the town’s yard debris this week, Pennsauken’s Department of Public Works will be doing the job themselves on Sunday, May 9.
A social media post from the Township and its Department of Public Works stated, “South Jersey Sanitation was permitted to collect Wednesday’s (May 5) Yard Debris today, Saturday, May 8, due to manpower shortages due to COVID exposure/contraction among their staff. The Pennsauken Department of Public Works was informed late this afternoon that South Jersey Sanitation could not get manpower in today to meet their obligation to Pennsauken. The Township is committed to providing quality services to its residents and will hold this consistently underperforming contractor financially responsible. The remaining Yard Debris from Wednesday’s collection will be collected tomorrow, Sunday, May 9, by Pennsauken Department of Public Works personnel.”
An Important Message From Pennsauken’s Department Of Public Works South Jersey Sanitation was permitted to collect…
Posted by Pennsauken on Saturday, May 8, 2021
Public Works asks that those who did receive collection on Wednesday hold onto any new yard debris for next regularly-scheduled collection, so that they can focus on residents affected by South Jersey Sanitation’s performance failures.
To report a missed yard debris collection, residents are asked to email publicworks@twp.pennsauken.nj.us.
South Jersey Sanitation Sold, Becomes Seaside Waste
By Joe Scavuzzo, Director, Department of Public Works
In early March, Pennsauken Township was notified that our current waste collection contractor, South Jersey Sanitation, Inc., was sold to a group with “over forty years of national solid waste operations experience.” This new management team looks to re-brand the company as “Seaside Waste,” featuring a new truck color and elevating the level of service.
Important Information About Contaminated Recycling In Pennsauken
By Joe Scavuzzo, Director, Department of Public Works
Before I get to the main topic of this article, I’d like to welcome Luis Green and Greg Hannah to the Public Works team. Both residents of Pennsauken come to us with landscaping and handyman experience, as well as a lot of energy, adding pieces to the puzzle that is the future of our department. Lou and Greg began back in early June and have blended into our operations so seamlessly, I forgot to mention them in the July and August editions of this article! They are quickly becoming assets to our organization and I look forward to continue working with them.
For those of you who have followed my exciting coverage on recycling the past few months, hold on to your seats! According to a letter from our recycling center, FCR Camden, LLC, any Pennsauken recycling trucks with over 8 percent contamination will be rejected. Contamination is when residents place non-recyclables in the recycling such as pizza boxes, plastic bags, Styrofoam, bubble wrap, frozen food containers, plastic/paper to-go containers, cups, straws or utensils and even hoses or hangers. These items should always go in the trash. Remember: When in doubt, throw it out!
A Message From Public Works Regarding Storm Cleanup
By Joe Scavuzzo, Director of Pennsauken’s Department of Public Works
As a result of Monday’s storm, a significant amount of tree debris was left throughout our town. Our tree crew was out clearing blocked roads from trees where PSE&G wires were not involved.
Today begins the town-wide clean-up process. While the tree crew will handle the large limbs and trunks, the rest of the crews are split into each section of town, similar to when we plow snow. Their goal is to collect large branches that are from the street and lined at the curb. We ask our residents to take advantage of today’s cooler weather and perform some clean-up today due to tomorrow’s normally-scheduled Yard Debris Collection Day throughout town.
