New garbage cans aimed for Main Street

Check out the new garbage receptacle in front of the Center Moriches Library. It’s part of a pilot program underway to test its feasibility before others are joined along Main Street.

The Center Moriches Main Street holds its own with its attractive, cared-for business area featuring 112 hanging baskets regularly watered and clean sidewalks. But a garbage and dumpster issue began percolating a couple of years ago.

Chamber of Commerce of the Moriches Downtown Beautification Committee members Gerry Sapanaro (she is president) and Mark Danowski have been leading the charge. Councilwoman Karen Kesnig has been working with the group, along with Christine Fetten, commissioner of recycling and sustainable materials management.

“The receptacles are just for people walking past and disposing items like a pack of gum or a coffee cup,” explained Sapanaro, who owns Moriches Bay Realty.  “But that hasn’t been happening. The town sent out letters to the property owners. We do have rentals, and want to make sure they aren’t using these receptacles for their own business garbage.”

There are 28 Main Street garbage cans currently in use.

Danowski, an Allstate Insurance agent, said there are about 50 businesses in the chamber.

“The garbage cans we have now have a life span,” Danowski said. “They’re about 15 years old.” Business owners do go outside with a garbage picker if they see litter in front of their shop, he said.

As for the dumpsters problem. 

“Some of the gates swing open, and the garbage falls out and makes a mess,” he said.

There was an inner liner that some garbage companies stopped utilizing. 

“The town has gotten on those garbage-collecting companies and now they’re being held accountable. The new cans have a system where the garbage can’t fall outside the cannister,” Danowski added.

Councilwoman Kesnig said commissioner Fetten spoke at a June 11 chamber meeting.

“The day after, Christine sent out a letter spelling out what the garbage cans in town were to be used for like coffee cups, but not for the businesses to empty their garbage in each day. She’s very passionate about what she does and about getting people to comply. The town is spending a lot of money to get new cans in their search to satisfy the business owners,” Kesnig said.

The new receptacle by the library costs approximately $1,629. The unit was provided to the town at no cost, but there will be additional costs for installation once the program is in full swing. Once a green light is given, municipal bidding would take place. The town is picking up the tab.According to commissioner Fetten, “The new unit will remain at the library allowing the chamber to observe the unit and for the collection carter servicing it to determine if it’s an appropriate type for the corridor. The town, highway department and chamber will then work together to determine permanent locations for the receptacles and develop an installation estimate, then would proceed with full deployment and investment.”

Illegal dumping is another issue; the town has now issued stronger fines, as seen with the recent dumping of a boat in the Pine Barrens in Manorville.

“There’s no Main Street in Manorville, so it’s an easier place to dump whatever you want,” Kesnig said. “But there are more cameras now and my office has made a strong effort to address that. People like to [do] things like paint cans they can’t put out on the curb. But we’ve gotten lots of calls. Someone dumped five tires, for example; we got calls and sent the highway department out to pick them up.”

Kesnig said at each town board meeting the town has adopted changes to town codes regarding this issue with stiffer penalties, “to wake people up that they can’t be doing this.”

According to Local Law 8 passed in April, first conviction fines tally in at $2,000 to $10,000 or by imprisonment no fewer than 15 days nor more than six months.

Recycling also needs to be emphasized and followed through by residents, sadly on the wane, too.

“People don’t properly recycle,” Kesnig said. “So, we’re trying to emphasize recycling education. Each council member has two recycling events each year.”

Kesnig and Brookhaven recycling educator Zachary Sicardi visited the Dayton Avenue, South Street, Eastport and Tuttle Avenue elementary schools and made a recycling presentation, stressing its importance in May. On June 1, the town held an E-Waste, Shredding and Shed the Meds prescription drugs take-back, with Kesnig encouraging kids to get their parents involved.

“The kids were amazing. The class in each of the schools with the most participants got a pizza party,” she said.