Kenilworth council, DPW discuss bulk‑waste pilot, agree to clarify rules and pursue ordinance changes

Mayor Linda Karvovich and Department of Public Works staff spent more than an hour on May 20 addressing resident complaints from a recent South Side bulk‑waste pilot and outlining next steps to clarify what the borough will collect.

The discussion began after residents reported that items shown on a DPW webpage did not match a printed flyer. "What people put out that was not picked up was not on the flyer. It was on the DPW webpage," said Greg, the borough superintendent of public works, who briefed the council on operational details and follow‑up steps.

The issue stemmed primarily from how the state classifies solid waste. "Bulk is ID 13. ID 13c is construction materials, and carpeting and padding is labeled as construction material," Greg said, explaining why crews did not collect carpet placed at curbside. The superintendent said the borough removed the conflicting carpeting language from the website once residents flagged the mismatch.

Why this matters: residents interpreted mixed messages to mean crews had arbitrarily left items. Council members and staff said the disagreement had created calls and complaints that could be reduced with clearer outreach and a tighter ordinance.

Officials described practical guidance and possible policy changes. Key understandings from the meeting:

- The existing five‑item limit for scheduled bulk pickup remains in force for the pilot. Residents may still bring recyclable materials and certain scrap to the DPW yard at no charge rather than use their five‑item curbside allowance.

- The borough will not collect appliances for free on bulk day; appliance pickup carries a small resident fee under existing practice unless the resident brings the appliance to the DPW yard.

- The borough will accept scrap metal at curbside in the pilot but officials signaled a likely ordinance change: scrap metal would be collected and not be counted against a household's five‑item allotment, while appliances (stoves, washers, air conditioners) would remain excluded.

"We can collect recyclable items, but we won't count it towards their five items," Greg said, describing the sanitation crew and a pickup truck that would follow the sanitation truck to capture recycling and metal for separate disposal.

Council members cautioned about enforcement and resident confusion. Several council members asked staff to keep records and photos when crews inspect piles so the borough can respond to complaints and verify whether an item qualified for collection.

Staff said the borough will produce a mailer with a URL/QR code linking to a detailed webpage listing acceptable recyclables and bulk items. The flyer will present highlights and direct residents to the website for full rules, officials said.

What remains unresolved: formal ordinance language. Council members agreed in principle to amend the borough's bulk‑waste rules to clarify which recyclable items crews will accept on bulk day and to exempt scrap metal from the five‑item limit, but they did not adopt an ordinance at the May 20 meeting. Officials said they will draft amended language and return it to the council for formal introduction and vote.

The council did not take a formal vote on the ordinance change at the meeting; instead staff were directed to harmonize the flyer and website, continue the pilot, document collections with photos and trip notes, and prepare proposed ordinance language for a future meeting.

A closing note: staff recommended that residents who are unsure whether an item is recyclable call DPW for guidance or bring the item to the DPW yard, where many recyclables (bottles, cans, scrap metal, cardboard, certain light bulbs, motor oil) will be accepted free of charge.