To help limit rodent food sources from trash, the City of Hoboken will require all residential or mixed-use properties with 10 or fewer units to store trash in containers with a tight-fitting lid when at the curb for collection and while stored between collections starting on Aug. 24.
To assist property owners in need, the City has ordered over 3,000 garbage cans which the City will provide to a limited number of property owners in the near future. Details regarding the limited distribution program will be announced in the coming weeks.
Under the new regulation, properties with more than 10 units will also be required to utilize garbage bins with tight-fitting lids. If there are space constraints preventing a property with more than 10 units from utilizing garbage bins with tight-fitting lids, the property owner or manager must use disposable garbage bags with rodent repellent that are at least 1.1 mils thick. If the garbage bags do not have rodent repellent, the bags must be at least 3 mils thick. If trash is not in a container and is instead in a disposable plastic garbage bag, the garbage must be stored indoors between collections.
Please note a full garbage container must not weigh more than 50 pounds per the City's contract with Cali Carting, as garbage hauler employees manually lift trash. Trash which is over the weight limit may be left at the curb and would not be picked up by Cali Carting.
The City will have a 30-day grace period for property owners to come into compliance with the regulation. Following the grace period, property owners who are violating the law may be issued a notice of violation and be subject to fines.
On Aug. 23, at 7 p.m., the Hoboken City Council will also consider an amendment to the new regulation to include an exemption provision for certain properties with certain space constraints. If passed by the City Council, the City will create an exemption form for property owners to fill out and be considered for an exemption. Exemptions will only be considered if there are space constraints on the property.
Additional information/requirements for garbage containerization:
https://www.hobokennj.gov/faqs/what-are-the-requirements-for-garbage-containerization.
Garbage containerization FAQ: https://local.nixle.com/alert/10239745/.
Rodent activity mitigation measures and best practices: https://www.hobokennj.gov/faqs/how-can-we-mitigate-rodents-in-hoboken.
