March 12, 2008
by Jim Lockwood/The Star-Ledger
Sparta voters today approved a plan for town wide garbage collection.
In a special election held in the Sussex County town, residents voted 2,879-2,463 in favor of implementing the trash collection.
The plan became controversial during the past three months and generated strident opposition, and led to a successful petition resulting in today's referendum.
The 416-vote margin was viewed by proponents as a sizable gap and a convincing victory.
The 42 percent voter turnout also was unusually high, officials said.
"Obviously the majority of the town saw the benefit of program. The people of Sparta have spoken," Mayor Michael Spekhardt said.
A town wide collection would cost each household $240 a year, and would represent a savings to residents of $3 million over three years - while providing more service, Spekhardt said. The average trash hauling bill is about $350 a year, but some residents pay upward of $400 or $500 a year, the mayor said.
Opponents had argued that they would prefer to take their trash themselves to the nearby county landfill, where they pay much less than they'll pay under the new plan.
The tentative starting date for town wide collection is April 1, the mayor said.
