This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.

Community Corner

Waste Management of New Jersey Prepares for 2013 Hurricane Season

It’s a service that, once restored, means things are getting back to normal. Much like electricity for your home or fuel in your car, most New Jersey residents may take their regular garbage and recycling collection or debris removal for granted. But following a severe storm or hurricane, these services are essential to local recovery. 

 

“Following a powerful hurricane strike, one of the most essential needs for a community to begin recovery is the reliable return of its most vital services,” said John Wohlrab, government relations director for Waste Management of New Jersey. “That’s why we spend a lot of time in the weeks prior to the start of hurricane season focusing within our company on annual hurricane preparation and recovery planning.”

Find out what's happening in Mendham-Chesterwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

 

This year is no different. Local Waste Management staffs review their local storm plans, re-establish contact with local emergency authorities, and inspect and re-stock their hurricane preparedness equipment and supplies. All this and more is to ensure that employees are able to return to performing their very essential collection jobs in the community as soon as practical following a storm.

Find out what's happening in Mendham-Chesterwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

As part of its own hurricane planning and pre-storm preparation, Waste Management puts its local response plan into action as soon as a storm becomes
a verified threat to the area.

 

After a storm, Waste Management works to re-start waste and recycling collection and operations as soon as possible on streets that are passable. Reminders to separate household garbage from storm debris are distributed. The company expands its routes to additional areas as more streets become safe to navigate
and clear of debris and other impediments.

 

If a hurricane does directly impact your area, there’s one way you can make a difference. Simply remember to put household garbage such as food refuse and diapers – everything you ordinarily throw away – into containers or bags. Then place them at the curb separate from large storm debris like large household debris, trees and limbs. By carefully separating your household garbage, you help your street get picked up more quickly and safely. 

 

In preparation for the upcoming hurricane season in New Jersey, property owners can add the Bagster® Dumpster in a Bag® to their emergency supplies as a solution to removing and disposing of debris quickly and safely following a storm. Bagster bags are strong enough to hold 3,300 pounds of severe storm and tornado debris items, such as tree stumps, large tree limbs, roofing shingles, full sheets of plywood or gypsum wallboard. For more information on filling guidelines for the Bagster bag and availability in your area, visit www.thebagster.com.

 

“Our value to a community is not always apparent unless collection stops,” said Wohlrab. “Doing everything we can to prepare before and return to service and help local residents recover after a weather event is what being a good community partner is all about.”

 

More tips for hurricane preparedness are available on www.ready.gov.

 

Waste Management is the leading provider of comprehensive waste services in North America, providing collection, transfer, recycling and disposal services to municipalities, homeowners and commercial customers.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

The views expressed in this post are the author's own. Want to post on Patch?