Newark public works director asks council for dozens of hires, new equipment and tech to curb illegal dumping

Newark Department of Public Works Director Tyrique Rolon told the City Council at a May 13 special meeting that the department needs substantially more staff and equipment to keep pace with the city’s growth and to reduce recurring service failures.

Rolon said the administration has approved hiring 55 workers (20 laborers and 35 drivers) who are in the last phase of onboarding and that DPW officials are asking in total to add dozens more personnel across divisions — including additional CDL drivers, laborers and mechanics — as well as replacement and supplemental street sweepers and other equipment.

The request comes after Rolon described an older fleet (average vehicle age about 13 years), increased illegal dumping and a larger service area. "We are responsible for about 60,000 households," Rolon said, noting the department’s data were based on 2021 figures. He said illegal dumping has risen roughly 11 percent year over year in his key performance indicators.

Why it matters: trash and recycling operations are the city service residents encounter most often; gaps in pickup and enforcement have visible public-health and quality-of-life consequences and drive repeated complaints to council members.

Most important details

- Staffing requests and approvals: Rolon said the administration has authorized 55 new hires currently in processing (20 laborers, 35 drivers). Separately, the DPW presentation included division-level staffing requests such as adding 6 CDL drivers and 15 laborers for refuse (to reach an indicated target of 43 CDL drivers and 92 laborers for that unit), 7 CDL drivers and 15 laborers for recycling (targeting 30 CDL drivers and 56 laborers), additional mechanics (Rolon asked for four more mechanics to reach 17), and several seasonal neighborhood-services laborers. Rolon characterized the additional hires as needed to provide schedule flexibility and to reduce worker injuries and overtime.

- Fleet and equipment: Rolon said the department operates 47 32-yard refuse trucks and older equipment overall and that the average fleet age is about 13 years. He said the city needs more front-loaders for multiunit properties and additional street sweepers; two sweepers were lost to fires in recent seasons, and the capital improvement plan anticipates additional sweepers later this year.

- Recycling schedule change and outreach: Rolon described adjustments to collection windows that took effect March 17 to reduce material spillage and wind-blown litter. Under the revised guidance, residents should set out recyclables between 6 p.m. and 10 p.m. the evening before collection. Rolon said communication about the change was imperfect and that the department has mailed flyers, held community meetings and will continue targeted outreach and a mayoral Facebook live to reduce confusion.

- Technology and interagency steps: DPW is working with NJIT and Project Elevate to develop a resident-facing app that will let residents upload photos, schedule pickups and receive notifications. The department is also exploring GPS routing tools for drivers and evaluating whether cameras, drones or other tools can deter illegal dumping.

- Hot spots and enforcement: Rolon said the department has identified persistent illegal-dumping hot spots and is coordinating with police and other city units. He said the administration supports setting up cameras and restoring an illegal-dumping task force targeted at recurring problem sites.

Council response and follow-up requests

Council members thanked Rolon for responsiveness and pressed for data and operational detail. Councilman Kelly asked for a breakdown of CSS workers and tonnage costs; Rolon said he would provide those numbers and the presentation to the council. Councilman Silva and others urged quicker deployments and supervisor accountability after citing specific missed pickups and footage that showed routes not completed in a timely way. Several council members pressed for clearer hiring timelines, the status of workers’ compensation cases and specifics about which sweepers and parts will be purchased so new equipment can be maintained.

Direct quotes from the meeting

"We are responsible for about 60,000 households," Director Tyrique Rolon said, describing the department’s service area and workload.

"If your material day is Monday in Zone A, we're asking you should place your items out between 6 p.m. and 10 p.m. the day before," Rolon said when explaining the revised recycling timing.

"Most residents will interact with public works more than any other department, and they judge the effectiveness of municipalities based on our ability to get what you are responsible for done," Councilman Ramos said in support of Rolon’s staffing request.

What's next

Rolon agreed to share his presentation and data with council members and to provide requested figures on workers’ compensation, CSS staff counts and tonnage costs. He said the administration plans to pursue capital purchases this year and to seek partnerships to deploy cameras and revive an anti-dumping enforcement task force by summertime.

Ending: The council signaled support for Rolon’s staffing and equipment priorities and asked the business administrator to help fast-track requested data and hiring progress so members can assist with outreach and recruitment.