Paterson can resume collecting bulky trash such as furniture at its DPW yard

PATERSON — The city’s public works director said on Friday afternoon that inspectors working for Passaic County have given Paterson permission to resume accepting old furniture and other bulk trash at a municipal yard.

The director, Billy Rodriguez, said the county inspectors told the city it wasn’t doing anything illegal by taking the bulky waste at the yard on East 16th Street. Rodriguez said the city yard would resume accepting the big garbage items from Paterson residents on Monday.

Rodriguez said it was determined that Paterson was operating “a convenience center” by letting residents drop off bulk waste. The premise for the shutdown imposed last week was that Paterson was running an unlicensed trash transfer station.

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The resumption of the bulk waste drop-offs seemingly helps the city avert a short-term garbage crisis. But City Council members are still demanding changes in cost-saving bulk waste collection plan that went into effect at the beginning of this year.

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Paterson in January discontinued the practice of including bulk waste as part of regular garbage collections by the city’s private hauler and began requiring residents to drop off large items at the yard or to schedule appointments for individual pickups.

City officials had said that move would save Paterson about $200,000 per month.

This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Paterson can resume collecting bulky trash such as furniture at its DPW yard