Newark council presses DPW over delayed garbage collection, missing cans and 24/7 plan
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Summary
Council members pressed the administration about missed trash pickups, a shortage of city-issued garbage cans and delayed electric truck deliveries; DPW said it is working extra shifts, has GPS/cameras in trucks, and estimated 5,500 additional cans and about 51 trucks are needed for full 24/7 service.
Council members on March 3 pressed city officials for clearer timelines and numbers after residents reported missed trash pickups and overflowing streets.
"We've had a lot of maintenance issues without trucks, and those are being taken care of," Councilman Kelly said, urging residents to contact his office if their garbage was missed. Benjamin Guzman and other council members asked the director of the Department of Public Works to explain the city's response plan.
The DPW director said crews worked extra days to catch up after postponed bulk collections in February and that Zone B was being serviced that day. "Every truck has a camera in them. Every truck is GPS," the director said, describing route-tracking and supervisor reports used to identify missed pickups and plan abatement operations. He added the city is staggering shifts to move toward round-the-clock service.
Council members pushed for more detail about resources and timelines. Several requested a breakdown of how many trucks are needed to sustain 24/7 service and when additional city-issued garbage cans would be distributed. The director said the administration is still arranging funding and purchasing roughly 5,500 additional cans and estimated phase 1 of distribution reached about 70% of households.
Councilman Silva and others argued DPW should move to a 24-hour model to address recurring accumulation of trash. The DPW director said the goal is to reach 24/7 operations in coming months but acknowledged limits while equipment is being repaired and deliveries are pending.
On equipment, the director told council the city is awaiting eight electric garbage trucks ordered in prior budgets but has no firm ETA after a vendor battery issue and a recall delayed deliveries. He also provided current fleet figures: about 51 pieces of in-house collection and related equipment overall, including large snow trucks and smaller pickup-style vehicles.
The director explained why liquid sometimes leaks from collection vehicles and what residents can do: when trash containing liquids (milk, grease, juice) is compacted, that liquid can drain out the back. "We recommend that residents should not put liquid into the garbage," he said.
Council members asked DPW for a written breakdown of: the number and types of trucks required per ward to sustain a 24/7 operation; the additional staffing needed; and a timetable and funding plan for the 5,500 cans. The director said administration would provide more detailed numbers to help the budget cycle and implementation planning. The council then moved on to other agenda items and later entered executive session.