Renters, elderly, handicapped and those without computers are left with lots of junk at home. Can we do what some of our neighboring towns do and just have advertised days for bulk pickups in different neighborhoods?

Advertised days sound like a great idea--with restrictions on how early stuff could be piled on the curb. The original poster is absolutely right. There are dumped mattresses, in particular, in many neighborhoods.

Completely agree that the new policy has resulted in a lower quality of life. There is frequently more dumped garbage around Mansfield, Tilton, Compton, Woodland. But much of it is by the property owners or renters. Has anyone every been given a fine in New Haven for dumping in front of their property? Is that a novel concept? I have lived in cities where summonses were routinely given, and it was a LOT better kept than New Haven, and was largely low income.

But I don't want to get a summons for stuff dumped in front of my place by others, which happens often. If the city starts issuing summonses for this, that's what people will do. It's a problem on my block, without the summonses. BTW, notice how the city isn't responding to SCF very much anymore?

Like I once said, we have people that don't really care about their neighborhood, which is why we see a lot of negative stuff going on. If we all somehow got a way to know our neighbors better, it could be the start of finding ways to make our neighborhood better. Wishful thinking?? No!!! It is definitely possible.

Thanks for all the feedback. Perhaps when the Board of Alders reviews Bulk Trash pick up processes and fee it will be beneficial for them to read. We at DPW appreciate the ideas and will review them but ultimately the Board of Alders decided on the fee. True that several neighborhoods have done community clean up days throughout the year and those have helped eliminate some of the usual dumping in their neighborhoods. Thanks again.

The City is most definitely NOT saving money by charging for bulk pickups, but the fee is only one of several factors DPW really needs to change. In poorer neighborhoods with highly transient populations, like Fair Haven, many residents don't have cars, so they can't take their items to the dump and they certainly can't drive to DPW just to schedule a bulk pickup appointment; that's just crazy. Heck, I have a car and I can't drive to DPW to schedule a bulk pick-up because they close HOURS before I get home from work! It's a crazy system right now, and DPW certainly spends a lot more time picking up illegally dumped items than they would be if there was an easier system in place. As one example, other towns allow free bulk pickup on designated days and it runs very smoothly; I used to live in a densely populated boro in NJ with this. This dramatically reduces illegally dumped items that have to be picked up on an ad-hoc basis and frees DPW from all those pickups that use so many labor and equipment resources. DPW should really re-think this so-called strategy; it's not working.

I have lived in New Haven all my life. When I was a kid, the city used to have free bulk trash pickups during the summer. They would tell us when it was, and we would then be sure to have our stuff out at the curbs for this. Illegal dumping was not a problem back then. Later on, they changed it to requiring us to schedule an appointment. With this method came people randomly adding to people's bulk trash piles. This lead to things being added that shouldn't be there. Now they charge, and illegal dumping happens everywhere. Problematic for sure.

I just re-posted this issue as a "comment" under various "illegal dumping" issues throughout the city. After awhile I lost count, but maybe this will finally get a conversation going with the Board of Alders and the Mayor.

Great! I also sent the link to my alder. Hopefully others will follow suit.

@ Lisa: Where the heck is the "Like" button on this site?...

Someone on this site mentioned that I should get in touch with my alder person, I have sent him emails and have never received a reply. I know the alder people do not get much of a pay, but it would be nice if they would just reply. I live in Ward #4.

Where is ward 4? And who is your alder?

I totally agree the city was cleaner when collection of bulk trash was free and regularly done by neighborhood. Also a lot of useful stuff got recycled; I got a door I needed and a buffet that I am still using years later from the sidewalk in East Rock!

If you are poor, or don't have transportation or the time it takes, you can't afford it or can't get to their office to schedule/ pay it. It's dumb that in this day and age you can't schedule and pay for bulk trash pickup by computer! Or at least by phone and charge card.

Here's how to find your Ward & Alder: http://www.cityofnewhaven.com/Aldermen/index.asp

@Christopher Schaefer Thank you for the information. Public Works thanks for responding quickly..Does anyone know when the next meeting is where we can meet with the alders of the different wards..

management teams' schedule: http://www.cityofnewhaven.com/LCI/Promo/ReadMore.asp?ID=%7BE68B8D85-0370-4ED4-8590-F44C5AB3B755%7D

Thank you Christopher Schaefer for the information :)

We are closing older 2014-2016 Illegal Dumping Issues found on Public Spaces (roads, tree belts, sidewalks) in order to focus on current Issues. Many of the older issues were addressed through our Streets Division but were never closed. Others involved an interdepartmental solution. If your “public space illegal dumping” issue has not been addressed, please open a new See Click Fix issue. Thanks