Your Neighbor's House Cleanout is Costing You
The Glen Rock Council opened a discussion during their August 27 work session on possible changes to the borough’s bulk waste pickup policy, citing concerns that the current system is being misused and creating an unnecessary financial burden for taxpayers.
Bulk pickup in Glen Rock is offered twice a month, with service scheduled so that each household receives pickup once per month. Officials noted that some residents are placing out volumes of material consistent with entire house cleanouts. Council members described the existing program as “very generous” but said it is increasingly being taken advantage of.
The problem, according to the council, comes down to cost and capacity. The borough pays dumping fees by weight, and while some house cleanouts may run about $500 in disposal costs, larger jobs with heavy items can cost up to $1,500. Those costs are absorbed by the municipality and spread across all taxpayers. In addition, excessive piles require Department of Public Works trucks to make multiple trips to the landfill, consuming staff time and gas. Council members also observed that while much of the waste put out is genuine trash, other items could be reused or donated.
The governing body is now weighing several changes. One possibility is placing a cap on the number of items per household per pickup. Many neighboring towns already set limits of five or six items. One council member suggested that eight items could be a fair threshold, allowing residents to space out larger cleanouts over several months if needed. For clarity, the council noted that a single “item” would mean either one large black trash bag filled with waste or a single bulky piece of furniture such as a dresser.
To guide policy decisions, Glen Rock will survey nearby municipalities to compare their bulk disposal rules. Council members also discussed how to handle exceptional cases, such as flood damage, but noted that emergencies are typically addressed through insurance coverage that includes clean-out services and dumpsters.
A major focus of the conversation was encouraging residents to consider reuse and recycling before sending items to the curb. Officials highlighted donation options, including veterans organizations and charities that arrange pickups, as well as local “buy nothing” groups and platforms like Facebook Marketplace. A Glen Rock Girl Scout previously compiled a list of organizations accepting donations, and the council noted that this resource should be updated and redistributed to ensure residents have current information.
While there was consensus to pursue changes to prevent abuse of the system, the council expressed a desire to balance fairness by avoiding overly restrictive rules for residents conducting ordinary cleanouts. Next steps will include reviewing policies from other towns, refining potential item limits, and launching a public education campaign to raise awareness of disposal alternatives.
The council’s goal is to preserve a useful service for residents while curbing excessive costs and encouraging more sustainable practices.
