Newark Has New Mattress Disposal Rule. But Is Enforcement Too Soft?

NEWARK — A local law requiring that mattresses be wrapped in plastic before curbside disposal got the City Council’s approval on Wednesday amid questions about how the new regulation will be enforced.

East Ward Councilman Michael Silva said absentee landlords have been putting out mattresses, which have rested curbside for too long. The new regulation aims to protect public works employees tasked with picking up mattresses from bedbugs and diseases, he said.

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“The LLCs are not doing what they are supposed to be doing,” said Silva, who sponsored the measure. “We have a very transient city today in 2024. There are people (who are) putting out entire apartments.”

Residents speaking at a public hearing on the measure, however, voiced concern that the city may be too soft in enforcing its existing rules for waste disposal.

According to resident Debra Salters, garbage and other waste is regularly strewn curbside in violation of the existing regulations for waste pickup.

“Who is going to enforce it? Because no one is now. Our city is dirty,” Salters said. “It stinks, and it’s disgusting.”

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Another resident raised concern about the mattresses that are curbside and unwrapped now.

“Who is going to be accountable for the mattresses that are thrown out and not being picked up?” Munirah El Bomani asked.

“You need to go around the city and pick up the mattresses that are on the street as we speak,” El Bomani added.

Alif Muhammad, a resident of Court Towers, however, had praise for the regulation. Bedbugs, he said, are not just a problem in disadvantaged communities.

“Five-star hotels can get bedbugs,” Muhammad said. “This is a great idea. I think you should pass it.”

Resident Shakir McDougald suggested adding another day for bulk waste pickup and more staff for the public works department.

“I’ve come up here before expressing the fact that our DPW needs more help,” McDougald said. “We need more bodies.”

Resident Ché J.T. Colter raised the issue of bodily fluids on mattresses and suggested protective equipment for public works employees. “Our DPW staff, our city of Newark staff should be protected,” he said.

Many New Jersey towns, including Jersey City, Paterson and Belleville, already require mattresses be wrapped for disposal.

People who violate Newark’s mattress-wrapping requirement, or any provision of the city’s code on waste disposal, may be fined $100 for a first offense, $200 for a second offense and $300 and/or up to 90 days of community service for a third offense, under the city code . Violators convicted of subsequent violations may face fines of $1,500, community service and “discontinuance of solid waste collection service,” the regulation states.

Responding to some of the residents’ concerns about enforcement, Silva said the property owners would be held responsible.

“Now we have another tool in our toolbox to be able to enforce it and issue summonses,” he said, and then added: “I think this moving forward will help with the mattress situation.”

For details on bulk waste collection, visit the city of Newark’s webpage on trash and recycling or call sanitation at 973-733-3644.

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