By Morgan Pilz, Staff Writer

(Feb. 13, 2020) A stricter policy regarding the collection of solid waste was approved by the Berlin mayor and Town Council on Monday, although there were disagreements on how the policy should or could be enforced by residents of the town.

Photo courtesy Town of Berlin
Bulk waste left on the curb of this Berlin home shows excessive quantities as well as unwrapped
furniture. The town council voted for a new policy to restrict the number of items left for pickup.

Town Administrator Jeff Fleetwood introduced the ordinance to the council to address the possibility of the  improper use of the bulk waste system. The policy was first suggested to the council two months ago, and failed to gain support.

The town offers to collect yard waste, bulk waste and live-cut Christmas trees from “improved, occupied single-family residential properties” each year, according to the policy. Bulk and yard waste are typically collected in the spring and fall, while the trees are retrieved in January.

“Mr. Dave Wheaton, Mary Bohlen and myself have browbeaten this significantly again,” Fleetwood said. “The major exception is there no money involved in this. What we’re asking for the mayor and council to consider a number of items that can be capped when picked up.

“One of the major issues is when the public works folks are out picking up this bulk pickup, there are mattresses that are not wrapped, furniture not wrapped … I do want to say this to the citizens of this town, it’s not everybody that’s doing this,” he added. “I fully recognize that, but there needs to be a limit put on this.”

Fleetwood and Bohlen demonstrated the size of the problem by showing pictures of multiple piles of bulk waste ranging from wooden pieces, which are ineligible for collection, to multiple unwrapped mattresses or furniture.

Bulk waste is defined as “waste items not considered to be normal household trash/refuse, recyclables or yard waste,” the policy states.

The new policy offers a limit of four items per household per collection date, with one box filled with multiple items not exceeding 50 pounds being considered as one item. Any items in excess of four will be left behind, the policy states.

Other requests are that fabric items be wrapped to avoid infestation of fleas, bedbugs or other various health risks. There would also be no cost during bulk collection time.

The policy also kept the requirement that anyone participating in bulk pickup should call the town at 410-641-2770 by noon on the Monday of the designated week. Those with questions concerning special collections should call the town’s public works department at 410-641-4001 or email Superintendent Dave Wheaton at dwheaton@berlinmd.gov.

However, some residents at the meeting felt more could be done regarding bulk pickup.

One resident asked about the possibility of paying extra to have additional items collected. Fleetwood noted with irony that such a request had been considered during the first proposal in November.

“We hope that this will significantly improve the situation for the pickup in the spring,” Mayor Gee Williams said.

Council member Zach Tyndall suggested having a feature online regarding bulk pickup to gauge the reactions of people regarding a fee for excessive material.

Other residents argued against allowing residents to leave their bulk collection materials on the sidewalks overnight. One member of the audience reported that he had seen drivers with Delaware license tags drop off their own waste materials at night because they were aware of the dates of the pickup.

Another resident suggested having a Dumpster day, when an open area could be available to drop off waste. To use that service,  a resident would have to show proof of residency with an ID or other proof of address.

All of these ideas were taken into consideration by the council, with Tyndall suggesting there be a review of the policy after one year to make adjustments as needed.