Oakland officials defend new Pompton Lakes trash contract as residents say can-size rule changes service

Mayor Kamala and borough officials faced prolonged public comment on July 14 about a recently launched solid-waste contract with Pompton Lakes that residents say amounts to a material change of service.

Borough Administrator Rich Cruz told the council the change was driven by cost pressures: "Over the last 10 years our garbage-collection costs have risen 290 percent," he said, and described a contract that, by one conservative comparison, avoids about $1.4 million in costs over the term versus last year’s Suburban rates. Cruz presented alternative estimates that, under different inflation assumptions, could raise cost avoidance to roughly $3.1 million (about $565 per average home over the contract). He said the agreement is for roughly 4.5 years and that the figures were intended to be conservative.

Several residents said the council had told them there would be "no change of service" and that the new rule — Pompton Lakes’ standard 45-gallon toters rated for 60 pounds — effectively prevents many longtime cans from being collected. "To say there is no change of service — that wasn't exactly true, was it?" said Will Lenzetti, a resident who spoke during public comment. "The can-size rule is a change of service."

Cruz and council members framed the can-size policy as a worker-safety standard tied to the vendor’s automated lifting equipment. "Toters in particular are designed for the one-armed automated collection," Cruz said, adding that heavier tubs and reaching into cans create injury risks for drivers and haulers.

Residents and business owners pushed back on practical and financial grounds: Dean Trivassani estimated that a large share of households might need to buy multiple smaller cans and questioned whether up-front resident costs would erase projected town savings. Vic Taffer, a business owner, urged a weight-based compromise — enforcing a 60-pound limit rather than a strict gallon-size rule — to reduce the burden on seniors.

Council members said they would remain in "pretty much daily contact" with Pompton Lakes to monitor the rollout and to ask the vendor to adjust routes or timing where residents flagged problems. Cruz said the contract contains multiple termination clauses — including one that allows the borough to exit without cost if Pompton Lakes cannot provide the service — and that some reopener language exists for unexpected cost increases tied to recycling-center use.

The mayor also said pickups under the new arrangement will continue through July 31 so residents have time to adjust. Council members discussed nonfinancial supports such as bulk buying of compliant cans (one council member opposed direct reimbursement from taxpayer funds).

The council did not vote to change the contract or the vendor at the meeting. Instead, officials committed to ongoing oversight, follow-up with Pompton Lakes, and additional communications to residents about acceptable containers and the borough’s enforcement approach.

The council moved on after more than an hour of public comment; members said the program was on "day 9" of operation and that they expected adjustments as operations settled.