Atlantic Beach Estates, East Atlantic Beach and Water Club residents want trash picked up

Atlantic Beach Estates, East Atlantic Beach and Water Club residents want their trash and recyclables picked up on a regular basis. Sanitary District 14 that is responsible for refuse pick up in the communities wants to satisfy their customers. Sanitary District 1 is going to help.

A year-long agreement between the sanitary districts that went into effect on Monday aims to fuse those goals into action.

Roughly 50 residents from those communities gathering in the party room of the Ocean Club in Atlantic Beach on March 30 to hear the S.D. 14 board led by Commissioner Ed Uehlinger and S.D. 1 Superintendent George Pappas discuss the plan.

Since May of last year service has not be up to the standards resident expect Uehlinger said. “One of our drivers came to me, handed me the keys and said, ‘Here are the keys to the truck I can get more money from Biden,’ and walked off the job that morning, “ Uehlinger said. “Money from Biden,” refers to the federal safety net money that was available because of the Covid pandemic.

Noting that trucking is one several industries that has been severely impacted during the pandemic, Uehlinger said only two people applied for the job to drive the trucks and their driving records made them ineligible to be hired.

After considering the options he said the inter-municipal agreement was “the way to go.” Discussions began in September and the deal was finalized in March.

Pappas said one truck with the same three people will pick up trash every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Every Tuesday the recyclables and every Thursday for a special pick up, typically that is bulk item.

“When you call the office you’ll be getting a live person answering the phone, not an answering machine,” he said. “If you have a problem Dave Squitieri, our foreman, will show up to fix your problem immediately.” Pappas said if it is a major problem he will be on the scene.

“We will be there every day,” Pappas said, “there is not a day that goes by that we will not be there.” Our workers are the best in business, the Tiffany of garbagemen you’ll be getting.”

He said the truck will start at 6:30 a.m. from S.D. 1’s yard in Lawrence. Residents were skeptical of only having one truck for the three communities. Uehlinger explained that S.D. 14 had to trek 16 miles to Merrick to unload one of its two trucks. Now the truck only has to drive 3.5 miles to Lawrence. S.D. 1 will then transfer a tractor trailer full of refuse to Merrick once a month.

“The whole process is streamlined and it is increasing services,” said Jim Vilardi, a S.D. 1 commissioner.

Many community members including East Atlantic Beach resident Cammy (she declined to give her first name) remained dubious of the new service. “I’ll be optimistic and hope it works out,” she said, “We’ll see where we are after a year.”