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Town of North Haven, CTTown of North Haven, CTTown of North Haven, CTTown of North Haven, CTTown of North Haven, CT
Public Works

Construction of Skiff Street Sidewalks from Van Rose Drive to Whitney Avenue

Notice Regarding Disposal of Yard Waste

Blight Complaint Form

The Town of North Haven Department of Public Works is responsible for providing many of the services that  residents come to rely on daily. The Department encompasses the offices of the Building Official, Engineering, Land Use Administration, Zoning Enforcement and the operating divisions of Field Operations, Parks, Equipment Maintenance, Sanitation and Recycling. Additionally, the Department administers the Town’s wastewater collection and treatment program under the direction of the Water Pollution Control Authority.

Department Contacts

Some helpful contacts for those residents who wish to transmit electronic mail messages to Department personnel, include:


The Department of Public Works administers the Town’s sewer and water programs and assessments under the direction of the Water Pollution Control Authority (WPCA).

Frequently Asked Questions About Sewer Backup Incidents

Water Pollution Control Authority

The Water Pollution Control Authority (WPCA) oversees the Town’s sanitary sewage collection system, the extension of sewer mains, reviews and approves of the expense and capital budget items, establishes policy, procedures and regulations, authorizes expenditures, and approves of assessment and connection charges.

The WPCA also works with property developers in Town to establish new sewer collection systems and pump stations for proposed subdivisions and commercial developments in accordance with Town standards.

Water Pollution Control Division

Veolia Wastewater Facilities 2010 Annual Report

Veolia Water Conservation

The Water Pollution Control Facility provides preliminary, primary, and advanced secondary treatment of all sanitary sewer waste. The treatment of sanitary sewer waste is subject to state and federal NPDES permit requirements. No effluent violations were recorded during the past year.

Facility personnel provide operation and maintenance of the WPCF, nine pumping stations, and preventive
maintenance of 110 miles of sewer lines. Facilities personnel performed 955 markings of underground sewer utilities as outlined in the “Call Before You Dig” program and performed 23 inspections of new sewer connections to the Town’s sanitary sewer system.

In addition to these duties, facility personnel provided preventive and corrective maintenance of all mechanical
systems at the town swimming pool and eight emergency generators located throughout the town.

Facility personnel also celebrated 5,964 days without a lost time accident this past year.

The secondary treatment process at the facility was upgraded in 2005 to allow for the reduction of nitrogen in the wastewater. The reduction of nitrogen in the wastewater is required by the Connecticut Department of  Environmental Protection to achieve water quality standards for Long Island Sound. This past year the facility exceeded its allowable discharge limit resulting in the Town having to purchase $4,971 of nitrogen credits from the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection.


Projects completed this year included cleaning of both primary and secondary digesters, upgrade of the ultra violet disinfection system, and replacement of the gravity thickener center drive mechanism.


The Water Pollution Control Facility, operated by Veolia Water North America, is a division of the Public Works
Department and reports to the Director of Public Works.


Sanitation

Refuse is not collected on the following six (6) holidays, and is normally one (1) day late during these holiday weeks:


New Year’s Day (Actual)
Memorial Day (Actual or Observed)
July 4th (Actual)
Labor Day (Actual)
Thanksgiving Day(Actual)
Christmas Day (Actual)

Refuse, recycling and bulk collection is not delayed for any other holiday.


The Sanitation Division is responsible for the weekly collection of municipal solid waste (MSW) and recyclables. On average, this amounts to approximately 24,000 tons per year or 1.1 tons per Town resident annually.


Refuse, recycling and bulk collection is not delayed by any other holiday.


The Sanitation Division is responsible for the weekly collection of municipal solid waste (MSW) and recyclables. On average, this amounts to approximately 24,000 tons per year or 1.1 tons per Town resident annually. The Town will remove bulky waste items such as refrigerators (State law requires that the door(s) be removed), ranges, sofas and mattresses at no charge to the resident. However, residents are reminded that Bulk Pick-up will ONLY be conducted twice annually in September and April. Residents are asked to contact the Department for notification of such pick-up times and dates. These items must be placed at the curb by 5:00 a.m. Please call Public Works at (203) 239-5321, ext. 400 for information for the aforementioned bulk pick-up.

Transfer Station


The Transfer Station is located on Universal Drive, approximately 500 feet south of the intersection with Sackett Point Road. Containers for normal household waste; metals; bulky waste, including brush and mattresses; tires without rims and white goods are available for use by residents only. Hours of operation include 7:00 a.m. - 12:45 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday (CLOSED SUNDAYS and MONDAYS).  All vehicles must obtain a permit to use the Transfer Station, including trailers for cars or trucks.  Please note that after July 31, 2010, Bulky Waste items including construction demolition materials, sheetrock, shingles, windows, etc. will no longer be accepted at the Town’s Transfer Station and residents will be asked to contact local haulers to make arrangements for such disposal.


To Obtain a Permit


All vehicles must obtain a permit to use the Transfer Station, including trailers for cars or trucks. Each year residents must bring their registration and driver’s license to the Public Works Office, Town Hall Annex, 5 Linsley Street, Monday – Friday, 8:30 am - 4:30 pm. Each resident is entitled to six (6) passes for the disposal of mixed solid waste, bulky wastes, tires and white goods. Passes are valid for the calendar year (January 1 – December 31). Additional passes are available to all residents at $10 each. Commercial vehicles, “Mason” dump trucks and vehicles larger than 3/4 ton pick-up trucks are not admitted into the Transfer Station due to space limitations.

Acceptable Refuse


Load your vehicle according to the following categories as you will have to unload your refuse into specified rolloff
containers.


The containers include:
• Wood & brush – cut into 3-4 foot lengths;
• Leaves, grass and plant debris mixed with small twigs and branches;
• Metal & white goods (stoves, refrigerators, washers, etc.);
• Upholstered items (chairs, sofas, mattresses, box springs);
• Household refuse (burnable only); and
• Tires (2 tires without rims per visit).
*After July 31, 2010, Bulky Waste items including construction demolition materials, sheetrock, shingles, windows, wood, etc. will no longer be accepted at the Town’s Transfer Station and residents will be asked to contact local haulers to make arrangements for such disposal.

 

Non-acceptable Refuse

All hazardous waste (pesticides, oil based paints, thinners, anti-freeze, gasoline, batteries, cleaning agents, etc.)
Hazardous waste must be taken to Hazwaste Central, 90 Sargent Drive, New Haven. Hazwaste Central is open
Saturdays ONLY from May until October. (Call 203-401-2712 or visit www.rwater.com/hazwaste)


Propane tanks (call Public Works concerning proper disposal OR contact local vendors).


Corrugated cardboard MUST be recycled. Residents can bring it to the Recycling Center on Elm Street in reasonably sized pieces or broken down or cut into 4’ x 20” pieces, tied securely and placed in your ‘green’
recycling bin for curbside pick-up.

Yard waste such as grass clippings and/or leaves (no twigs or branches) MUST be brought to the Recycling Center.

Used 55-gallon drums and oil tanks.

Please note that the Transfer Station attendant is not permitted to allow exceptionally large loads of refuse to be brought into the facility.  Use of the Transfer Station is by TRIP PASS only and solely for Town of North Haven residents.  The Transfer Station is not designed to accommodate vehicles other than ¾ ton or less pick-up trucks, passenger cars, vans or station wagons. 

Additional questions regarding the use of the Transfer Station may be directed to the Office of Field Operations at (203) 239-5321, extension 410.

Leaf Disposal


Leaves are a mandated recyclable item by the State of Connecticut and must be composted. They may be composted by residents in their backyard or through the Town’s efforts during its fall leaf collection. If the Town
collects leaves then the leaves must be placed in “brown” paper biodegradable leaf bags or raked loosely to the
curb. Leaves should never be placed in the street for safety reasons. Look for further details on the Town’s leaf removal program in the early fall.  (NOTE: The Town does not collect leaves at any other time during the year.)

However, residents may bring leaves (year round) to the Town’s Recycling Center on Elm Street.

Leaf Recycling Center Guidlines:


• Leaves (only) or leaves mixed with grass clippings must be brought to the Recycling Center in bulk

   or in biodegradable brown bags.
• Leaves in plastic bags must be emptied from the bags into the disposal area.
• Leaves mixed with grass, twigs, branches and plant debris will not be accepted. This yard waste

   must be taken to the Transfer Station on Universal Drive.

Grass Clippings


In accordance with State of Connecticut law, grass clippings may not be processed along with other nonrecyclable
solid waste. Residents are encouraged to consider alternatives such as backyard composting and recycling (mulching) mowers. A container for disposal of grass clippings is provided for residential use (only) at the Recycling Center.

Grass Clippings Guidlines:

  1. Grass clippings and/or grass clippings mixed with leaves may be brought to the Recycling Center in bulk or in brown biodegradable bags.
  2. Grass clippings in plastic bags must be emptied from the bags into the container.
  3. Grass clippings mixed with twigs and branches will not be accepted at the Recycling Center. Residents must dispose of twigs and branches, cut to 3’ lengths as well as grass clippings mixed with twigs and branches at the Transfer Station.

The Transfer Station is located on Universal Drive and is open Tuesday to Saturday from 7:00 A.M - 12:45 P.M. Residents must exit the Recycling Center no later than 11:45 A.M. Call the Department of Public Works (203-239-5321, ext. 400) for information concerning the use of the Transfer Station.

Recycling

Single-stream Recycling Information


The Town’s Recycling Program annually ranks in the top 10% of Connecticut cities and towns with a total of over
1,100 pounds of recyclables generated per resident and processed annually. In addition, North Haven recycles
over 50% of its municipal solid waste, far surpassing the State’s goal of 40%. This figure attests to North Haven’s
consistent ranking in the State’s top communities in percentage of recyclables.


Effective August 1, 2009, the Town of North Haven in contract with the City of New Haven and Willimantic Waste commenced single-stream recyclables collection including the acceptance of plastics, labeled 1 through 7, mixed paper materials including junk mail and telephone books, glass and metal food and beverage containers, etc. For more information on the Town’s single-stream recycling program, please contact the Department of Public Works at (203) 239-5321, extension 400.

 

Recycling of Electronics - NEW 

Effective August 1, 2010, and in conjunction with the recently approved Electronics Recycling mandate  imposed by the State of Connecticut, Department of Environmental Protection, the Town of North Haven will be implementing it's Electronics Recycling Program at the Town's Recycling Center located on Elm Street.  This program is open to all Town of North Haven residents. Residents are asked to bring their electronics to the Recycling Center instead of placing them at the curbside as has been done in the past.  The Town can no longer accept CURBSIDE electronics wastes, as defined as televisions, stereos, cameras, printers, facsimile machines, DVD players, Video players, etc. to the Wallingford Incineration plant for disposal.

Curbside Collection

The Sanitation Division provides curbside collection of State mandated recyclable items. These include, but are not limited to: clear, green, and brown glass food and beverage containers; metal food and beverage containers, aluminum foil and pie plates; newspaper (including inserts) and corrugated cardboard (cut into pieces no larger than 4’ x 20” and securely bundled).  Please see Single-stream Recycling Information for a complete listing.


Please place all recyclables in your curbside ‘green’ recycling box. The recycling box must be at the curb by 5:00 a.m. In order to guarantee pick-up on the normally scheduled date of your curbside collection.

Recycling Center


The Recycling Center operates as a temporary drop-off site for residents and is open on Saturday from 8:00 a.m.
to 1:45 p.m. and Tuesday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. until 11:45 a.m.


Residents may bring items that are collected curbside as well as the following: mixed paper (clean magazines,
junk mail); newspaper; corrugated cardboard; white office paper; plastic food and detergent containers coded #1 through #7 on the underside; glass; metal cans; and uncontaminated waste oil (crankcase oil).

Scrap metal (another recyclable) should be taken to the Transfer Station on Universal Drive.

Hazwaste Central


Household hazardous waste generated by all Town residents can be taken free of charge to Hazwaste Central
located at the Regional Water Authority on 90 Sargent Drive in New Haven (Exit 46 Long Wharf). Household batteries, which are a State of Connecticut mandated recyclable, must be disposed of as a Hazardous waste and cannot be placed with regular trash or in the ‘green’ recycling containers. Also, Hazwaste Central accepts oilbased
paints, car fluids, pesticides, cleaning products, etc. Hazwaste Central is open Saturdays from mid-May through the last Saturday in October, 9:00 a.m. to Noon. Residents are asked to call (203) 401-2712 or visit

www. rwater.com/hazwaste. Please bring your drivers license with you when entering and dropping off materials at
Hazwaste Central.

Snow Removal Policy



PERSONAL SAFETY - Older residents and those with health problems are reminded to avoid the extreme physical activity connected with shoveling snow. Also, skiers, operators of snowmobilers and all terrain vehicles are advised to keep vehicles off Town streets at all times.

TRAVEL SAFETY - When traveling, exercise extreme caution. During winter storm events, limit travel to trips which are absolutely necessary. Please keep a minimum of 75 feet from snow control vehicles.


PARKING - Residents are encouraged to refrain from parking on the street during and immediately after snowstorms. A Parking Ban may be declared by the Chief of Police as conditions warrant in accordance with Town Ordinance (Sec. 175). Stay tuned to local radio and television for updates. When in effect, the Parking Ban greatly improves the proper cleaning of snow and enhances both public and employee safety.


TREATED SALT - In the event of a winter storm resulting in mixed or frozen precipitation or at the beginning of a snowstorm, all roads will receive an application of treated salt normally within the first three hours and as needed thereafter.


SNOW PLOWING - During snowstorms (usually greater than two inches accumulation) town crews will plow based on established town priorities. Main roads are plowed first, followed by residential streets with one pass in either direction until the snowfall ceases. Then all roads are plowed to the curb.


CUL DE SACS - Residents are encouraged to be patient with the removal of snow from these areas as necessary large snow removal equipment often prohibits the full clearing of some areas where there is insufficient room available. Alternate equipment may be dispatched when storm conditions have subsided. Priority is given to clearing access in the roadway first.

PRIVATE PLOWING - Depositing of any snow from private driveways in the public streets that results in a hindrance to traffic is prohibited. This includes piles pushed across the street and the windows that are created in the street. Homeowners and plowing contractors should take notice that violators may be subject to a fine of $100 per offense. Homeowners may be held responsible for the actions of their contractors.


DRIVEWAYS - The Town is not responsible for snow which is deposited in private driveways. Plow operators have very little discretion on where this snow can go. Residents should understand that the Town’s priority is to clear streets to ensure public safety. Residents should throw/shovel snow to the down traffic side of the driveway. This will minimize the amount of snow that will be pushed back into the driveway.


SIDEWALKS - Property owners are responsible for clearing all snow and ice from sidewalks adjacent to their property within twenty-four (24) hours of the end of the snowfall or precipitation (Sec. 180-4).


MAILBOXES - Residents should make certain that their mailboxes are at least 42” high and set back slightly from the road so that the postal carrier can reach it. In the event mailboxes are damaged from plowed snow, the Public Works Department may assist residents in making temporary repairs as resources allow to ensure continued mail delivery.


FIRE HYDRANTS - Adopt the fire hydrant nearest your home and keep it clear of snow and ice.

SELF-SERVE TREATED SALT - Small quantities of treated salt mix is available to residents only at the Recycling Center on Elm Street on a self-service basis.

 

Sanitation regulations


  1. Refuse must be at the curb by 5:00 A.M.
  2. Containers must be in clear view, preferably at the curb.
  3. Refuse containers should be thirty(30) gallon containers with handles.
  4. Sanitation Division personnel will collect three(3) such containers.
  5. Refuse containers must NOT weigh more than seventy-five(75) pounds.
  6. If snow accumulation is two(2) inches or more, containers must be placed at the curb or a path from the curb to the containers must be cleared.
  7. Loose or carelessly placed refuse will not be collected.
  8. Cardboard boxes, grocery bags and/or wastepaper baskets are NOT to be used as refuse containers.
  9. Branches/wood must be cut into 3 to 4 foot lengths, bundled and securely tied.
  10. Two(2) bundles will be collected each week.
  11. Carpet must be rolled up, cut into 3 to 4 foot lengths, and securely tied. Carpet is NOT a bulk item.
  12. Pool covers must be cut, rolled up and securely tied. Pool covers are NOT a bulk item.
  13. Two (2) automobile tires, (without rims), will be collected when placed at the curb.
  14. All hazardous waste, demolition materials, propane tanks, car and truck parts and truck/tractor tires, trees stumps, sand, dirt and sod will NOT be collected. Call Public Works for disposal instructions.
  15. Proper disposal of hypodermic syringes:

The Quinnipiac Valley Health District advise that syringes should be placed in a clean, empty, wide mouthed, one gallon or smaller bleach container. When 2/3 full the container should be securely capped and discarded with the normal refuse or taken to QVHD at 1151 Hartford Turnpike.

      16.  Trash containers must be returned to their storage location, not visible from the street, within 24 hours of

              collection.


Town of North Haven • 18 Church St. • North Haven, CT • 06473 • (203) 239-5321