Town Residents: Rats Attracted to Overflow Trash

About two months ago, Morris Township residents experienced an infestation of rats in the Moore Estates, and although the exterminator took care of the problem and has made frequent inspections since, some of those residents believe the issue still exists.

Three residents from the Moore Estate condos and townhomes attended Wednesday night's meeting to express concerns about the infestation problem.

They told committee members they believe the problem isn't solved because of the excess of garbage that attracts the rodents. They believe that having the garbage pick-up twice a week instead of once would help this problem.

But Mayor Peter Mancuso said the township wouldn't be able to finance garbage pick up twice a week for all 8,800 homes in the township. He said they can't make an exception for one particular group.

"We will pick up your garbage once a week," Mancuso told the residents, "you can privately contract for another pick up if you care to, or we can possibly make the exception to pick the garbage up on a Monday when you might have a greater amount of garbage."

The Moore Estates has 60 condos and townhomes and two dumpsters for those residents. Residents feel the dumpsters don't provide adequate space for only getting picked up once a week. They say rats and other rodents have been coming to the garbage because it overpiles and leaks.

Resident Lorraine Roman pointed out the garbage area is by a shed where kids put their bikes, and said it raises health concerns because of diseases the rats may carry.

"I believe it's a health issue to have two dumpsters there," Roman told committee members. "It's first of all unsafe, unhealthy and it's an ugly situation."

Elizabeth McEntee, also a resident of the Moore Estates, suggested having the two pick-ups only during rat season when it's warm out.

"I think the two pick-ups will alleviate the problems immensely," she said.

The township used to have the garbage picked up twice a week, but an ordinance that was passed years ago switched it to once a week.

Township Administrator Timothy Quinn said committee members addressed the problem of the dumpsters with the board of health, and they have been pushing for the management company to replace those dumpsters because of the holes in them.

Resident Shirley Vanriper was most concerned about the covers on the dumpsters.

"When you take too long for pick-up only once a week, by the time the next pick-up comes, those lids aren't down anymore because they're too full," she said. "The garbage is all exposed."

Roman said the trash isn't just coming from the 60 homes; people from surrounding areas are using their dumpsters, which is also contributing to the problem.

Mancuso told the residents to check with a representative of the management company to see if they can give a quantitive feel as to which day the most garbage accumulates, so the township might be able to change the day it gets picked up.

Committee member H. Scott Rosenbush had another suggestion about the crowded dumpsters.

"I think Morris Township perhaps has a standing to say to the management company, to say 'you need to provide more dumpsters', rather than just the neighbors calling up the management company and saying there's not enough room," Rosenbush said.

Mancuso agreed and concluded the discussion by saying they will be in touch with the company by the end of next week.