Got Brush? Please Be Patient.

Brush pickup in Princeton Township will extend well into the New Year and the priority is to collect leaves before the first snowfall, Department of Public Works Superintendent Don Hansen said on Monday.

A dozen DPW employees are working hard to clean up leaves and brush as quickly as possible and daily work hours have been extended and Saturday hours have been authorized to expedite the cleanup.

“If I get the leaves up by Dec. 31, I’ll be really, really happy,” Hansen said.

The Township began collecting brush on Monday, Nov. 7, following Hurricane Irene in late August and a surprise snowstorm October that downed trees throughout the Township.

Between Oct. 30 and Dec. 5, crews cleared 2.100 cubic yards of brush, Hansen said.

Another 8,000 to 10,000 cubic yards still need to be collected, he said.

Because of the specialized equipment needed for brush removal, it’s not possible to simply hire outside contractors , Hansen said.

Princeton Borough DPW workers were hired to help during the past two Saturdays and on Monday, Township Committee authorized Hansen to continue hiring borough crews on Saturdays.

“The problem is, we don’t have enough time in the day to pick up the brush,” Hansen said. “I think we’ll be picking up brush long into next year. Hopefully, we’ll never see something like again. “

Workers from Mercer County sent two tree crews to the Township for four days and those crews cut down trees hanging from hard-hit Township areas, including Great Road and Herrontown Road.  But the crews had to leave for another job on Thursday, Hansen said.

The priority is to remove brush from the streets near Township schools, because the debris can pose a hazard to children walking to and from school, Hansen said.

DPW workers carry saws during pickup runs, cutting residents’ tree limbs down from 20, 30, 40 and 50 feet long to fit into the trucks. Some residents are putting out logs larger than a foot in diameter- a violation of the Township ordinance- but DPW still plans to collect those, albeit as a last priority, Hansen said.

Residents can make things easier by placing brush and leaves in separate piles, because items picked up separately, but sent to different places. Brush is sold for woodchips, while leaves are sold for compost.

“We need patience and cooperation form the people who are putting (the brush) out,” Township Committee Member Lance Liverman said.