Apartments demand Glassboro pay its trash costs, boro says no
GLASSBORO — A rare lawsuit in state court aims to force Glassboro to pay for a private vendor to do trash collection at a large apartment complex, after its newest owners rejected an offer to extend municipal curbside collection there.
The Crossings at Glassboro at 515 Mullica Hill Road has about 372 units and uses a private firm to empty communal trash bins three times a week.
It sued the borough in late March in Superior Court, demanding repayment for trash removal costs and damages. The suit doesn’t set a cost for either claim, but does estimate private trash collection costs were about $159,000 for the period from January 2020 through April 2024.
Glassboro Crossings Apartments, the complex owner, this week dropped a claim that Glassboro is violating civil rights, leaving only the question of whether curbside pickup is practical, including from a public health angle, under state law.
More: Glassboro passes on rental housing idea, Rowan students role an issue
More: Glassboro approves plan for new community center for Jewish students at Rowan University
The borough has about 120 miles of roads, and residents get their trash and recyclables picked up at curbside once a week. Officials had offered earlier this year to give the complex trash receptacles for residents to leave at designated spots. The borough would then handle emptying them.
Glassboro Crossings, which had late last year demanded in a letter to Glassboro Highway Superintendent Chip Clark reimbursement for its trash service fees, said that plan would result in unsightly and unhealthy piles of trash.
Marlton attorney Lori Weinberg represents the owner; she did not return a call for comment.
Glassboro has declined to comment on the lawsuit while the case is active.
While neither side is commenting publicly, the case echoes one in Clayton 15 years ago. The outcome there set precedent in the complex’s favor.
Rustic Village eventually beat Clayton in New Jersey Supreme Court.
The court held that what is fair treatment for the average single-family homeowner may not be everyone. For example, curbside pickup leading to trash-strewn roads, animal activity, and health code violations for some properties would not be enforceable.
Crossings at Glassboro opened in 1968 and has changed ownership several times. Its current owner is a Lakewood-based company that bought it in June 2021 for about $10.82 million, according to property records.
Joe Smith is a N.E. Philly native transplanted to South Jersey 36 years ago, keeping an eye now on government in South Jersey. He is a former editor and current senior staff writer for The Daily Journal in Vineland, Courier-Post in Cherry Hill, and the Burlington County Times.
Have a tip? Support journalism with a subscription.
This article originally appeared on Cherry Hill Courier-Post: Apartments turn to judge to make Glassboro pay its private trash costs
