Bulk pickup is April 25-29; e-waste drop-off is April 30

WEST HAVEN, April 13, 2022 — The next bulk trash pickup week is April 25-29.

West Haven residents are reminded to separate metals, recyclables and regular trash from bulk trash and put them out no more than 24 hours before pickup. Violations carry a $100 fine per daily offense, Public Works Commissioner Tom J. McCarthy said.

Residents are also reminded to “Put a Lid on It!” and use lids on all trash cans. Rain-soaked trash costs West Haven 10 times more at the dump, said McCarthy, adding that using trash can lids will save the city money by reducing the weight of trash and cost of tipping fees.

Bulk items include couches, chairs, tables, carpeting, padding and fencing, which may not exceed 6 feet in length. No building materials, tires, mattresses, propane tanks or hazardous waste are accepted.

Options for disposing of building materials include renting a dumpster or bringing the materials to a disposal facility for a fee.

Tires can be brought to Town Fair Tire, 63 Boston Post Road, Orange, for a fee of $2.75 per tire.

Mattresses can be disposed of for free in a container at the city’s highway maintenance garage, 1 Collis St. Mattresses must be dry.

Hazardous waste can be dropped off for free at HazWaste Central, 90 Sargent Drive, New Haven. HazWaste is open Saturday mornings from mid-May through October.

Propane tanks can be brought to Taylor Rental, 304 Boston Post Road, Orange, for a fee of $10.60 per tank.

The amount of bulk trash per collection is limited to 6 cubic yards, which is equal to a pile of trash about 6 feet long, 6 feet wide and 4 ½ feet high.

Homeowners are required to rent a dumpster or hire a junk removal service at their expense if trash exceeds 6 cubic yards. Otherwise, trash exceeding 6 cubic yards will be left at the curb, and a $100 fine per daily offense will be imposed, McCarthy said.

To prevent a potential fine, property owners should familiarize themselves with the city’s trash guidelines at Public Works.

Bulk trash must be generated by the customer at the residential unit where it is collected. Trash will not be collected if it is generated by anyone other than the resident of the home.

Bulk items must be separated and orderly. Do not place them next to a mailbox or utility pole or close to a fence, McCarthy said.

Also, do not place bulk items in front of a vacant lot or home — they will not be collected, he said.

Details at Bulk Trash Pickup.

In addition to bulk trash, the city picks up metals, including household appliances, also known as white goods, and toilets. To schedule a pickup on their curbside collection day, residents must call the Highway Department at 203-937-3644 or 203-937-3585. Appliance doors must be removed.

Leaf bags are picked up until June 1 and from Oct. 1-Dec. 31, and grass bags are picked up until Nov. 18. The bags are picked up on residents’ weekly collection days. Leaves and grass clippings must be in separate biodegradable paper bags and will not be accepted if they are in plastic bags.

The city also picks up brush that is cut into 3-to-6-foot lengths and tied in small bundles, no more than 70 pounds. Logs and stumps are prohibited.

Residents can bring grass clippings as well as bagged leaves and untied brush to the compost site, 1 Kimberly Ave., from 6:30 a.m.-2 p.m. weekdays and, starting in June, from 6:30-11:30 a.m. Saturdays. The first cubic yard of compost is free with proof of residence. Additional compost costs $25 per cubic yard. Residents must bring buckets and shovels.

For a $50 fee, the Department of Public Works will deliver up to 2 cubic yards of compost to homes in West Haven.

For electronic items, including TVs, the next e-waste drop-off day is April 30.

Residents can drop off electronic recyclables — typically anything that contains a circuit board or needs a battery — from 8 a.m.-noon at the highway maintenance garage.

The city is partnering with Take 2 Inc. of Waterbury, a state-approved recycler and collector of universal e-waste devices, to collect residential electronic items on a quarterly basis.

The collection is free for residents who have such items as computers, monitors, printers, keyboards, modems, computer mice, tablet computers, TVs, VCRs, DVD players, photocopiers, fax machines, scanners, video game machines, digital media players, personal digital assistants, stereo equipment, telephones, cellphones, cameras, microwaves and other small appliances.

Anything that has refrigerant, including air conditioners and dehumidifiers, is not accepted. Those items are considered white goods, and residents are asked to schedule a pickup on their curbside collection day by calling the Highway Department.

Details at E-waste Drop-off.

For the e-waste drop-off, residents are asked to heed the following guidelines:

—   Stay in your vehicle.

—   Vehicles will be spaced out. Event workers will remove electronics from your vehicle. There should be no interaction between residents and workers.

—   No mattresses or box springs will be disposed of at the moment.

—   No smoke detectors, ballasts or hazardous waste — lighter fluid, liquids, paint — will be accepted.

—   Electronic items left curbside will be tagged with information on the e-waste schedule and must be removed, or face a potential fine.

For the latest news and information, subscribe to the city’s Facebook page at West Haven City Hall.

Prescription Drug Takeback Day set for April 30 at WHPD

Prescription Drug Takeback Day set for April 30 at police headquarters

WEST HAVEN, April 13, 2022 — West Haven’s Police Department, Youth and Family Services and Prevention Council are holding a Prescription Drug Takeback Day on April 30.

The event is from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at police headquarters, 200 Sawmill Road, and will provide city residents with a safe and responsible way to dispose of unused, unwanted or expired pills.

The takeback program is sponsored by the Justice Department and the Drug Enforcement Administration.

Applications accepted for neighborhood tax credit program

WEST HAVEN, April 13, 2022 — The West Haven Community Development Administration is accepting applications for the 2022 Connecticut Neighborhood Assistance Act Tax Credit Program.

The program is designed to provide funding for municipal and tax-exempt organizations by providing a corporation business tax credit for businesses that make cash contributions to those entities.

To participate, municipal and tax-exempt organizations must complete a program proposal application. The fillable “NAA-01” form is available with detailed instructions at NAA Tax Credit Program.

Applications are due by 4:30 p.m. May 13 to the CDA office on the second floor of City Hall, 355 Main St.

The May 13 deadline will allow CDA officials to meet deadlines with the City Council for a public hearing and to submit approved applications to the state by July 1.

Those with questions can call CDA administrative assistant Rosa Richardson at 203-937-3546.

New UNH police officer

WEST HAVEN, April 13, 2022 — (Pictured): New University of New Haven police Officer Edward Bednarz Jr. is sworn in by Mayor Nancy R. Rossi at City Hall on April 5.

Attending the ceremony was UNH Police Chief Adam Brown.

Bednarz served in the Connecticut State Police for 32 years before retiring recently.

(City Photo/Killian M. Gruber)

West Haven named a Tree City USA

WEST HAVEN, April 5, 2022 — West Haven was recently named a 2021 Tree City USA community by the Arbor Day Foundation for its commitment to urban forestry.

According to the foundation, the city earned Tree City USA recognition by meeting the program’s four requirements: forming a tree board or department, creating a tree care ordinance, having an annual community forestry budget of at least $2 per capita, and holding an Arbor Day observance.

The Tree City USA program is sponsored by the Arbor Day Foundation of Lincoln, Nebraska, in partnership with the U.S. Forest Service and the National Association of State Foresters. The program was established in 1976.

“Tree City USA communities benefit from the positive effects that an urban tree canopy has year after year,” said Dan Lambe, the foundation’s chief executive. “The trees being planted and cared for by West Haven ensure that generations to come will enjoy a better quality of life. Additionally, participation in this program helps cultivate a sense of stewardship and pride for the trees the community plants and cares for.”

The Arbor Day Foundation, founded in 1972, has grown to become the largest nonprofit membership organization dedicated to planting trees, with more than 1 million members, supporters and partners.

The foundation has planted nearly 500 million trees in communities and forests worldwide since 1972.

According to the foundation, urban tree plantings help reduce energy consumption by up to 25%, increase property values by up to 20%, and clean water and create animal habitats to encourage biodiversity.

Mayor Nancy R. Rossi releases update on coronavirus audit

WEST HAVEN, April 5, 2022 — Mayor Nancy R. Rossi has released an update on the CohnReznick coronavirus audit.

Read the full Statement.

Mayor Nancy R. Rossi releases statement on CohnReznick audit

WEST HAVEN, April 5, 2022 — Mayor Nancy R. Rossi has issued a statement on the CohnReznick audit that was released Friday.

Read the full Statement.

Part of dog park closing for maintenance for six weeks

WEST HAVEN, April 1, 2022 — Part of Veterans Memorial Park’s dog park — the side for large dogs — will be closed for maintenance for about six weeks starting the week of April 4, according to a Department of Public Works official.

The park area, at 91 Bull Hill Lane, will be aerated and seeded with a hardier seed, “which should stand up to the dogs’ wear and tear better,” said Ernie Chiarelli, the department’s project coordinator and sidewalk inspector.

Chiarelli said the area will also be fertilized.

During the maintenance work, both large and small dogs can use the side of the park for small dogs, he said.

Those with questions can call Chiarelli at 203-937-3527.

Marchers sought for West Haven Memorial Day parade

WEST HAVEN, March 9, 2022 — The city and the West Haven Veterans Council are seeking veterans, civic groups, fraternal organizations, service clubs and marching bands to participate in the annual Memorial Day parade, which steps off at 10:30 a.m. May 30.

Participants must register and list required special accommodations for the procession, which has no rain date.

The city will provide transportation for veterans who are unable to walk the 1 ½-mile parade route, which follows Campbell Avenue from Captain Thomas Boulevard to Center Street. To make arrangements, call the mayor’s office at 203-937-3510.

The parade grand marshal is Emery Linton Sr., an Army veteran of the Vietnam War.

Download a Participation Form.

Forms are also available for pickup in the mayor’s office at City Hall, 355 Main St., where they are due May 6.

Completed forms must be faxed to 203-937-3705 or mailed to the West Haven Memorial Day Parade, Office of the Mayor, 355 Main St., West Haven, CT 06516.