Island Heights joins Toms River in shared garbage service agreement

Island Heights joins Toms River in shared garbage service agreement
Photo by Toms River Township.

TOMS RIVER, NJ – Residents of the small borough of Island Heights will soon look to Toms River for their garbage pickup and recycling services.

This comes as the two towns signed a shared service agreement that will utilize the Toms River Township Department of Public Works in Island Heights.

Toms River Township spokesman Art Gallagher said officials from both towns met Thursday morning at the pavilion on the Toms River in Island Heights to celebrate the success of the program, which started in January.

“It’s the equivalent of one more route for our guys,” said Tom River Mayor Mo Hill. “A win-win for both towns. Our incremental costs are very little and the savings for our good neighbor is significant.”

“This is the way government should work,” said Island Heights Mayor Steve Doyle. “Cooperating together for the benefit our of residents.”

Island Height Councilwoman Lynn Pendleton said the customer service and responsiveness her town gets from Toms River far exceeds that of the private contractor that was previously picking up their garbage, according to Gallagher.