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Mayor and Council Move to Establish Official Registry…  Residents Will Sign-Up To Keep From Receiving Unsolicited Advertising Circulars & Newspaper Supplements…

WOODBRIDGE – Mayor John E. McCormac today announced the first step toward regulating the unsolicited distribution of advertising circulars, fliers, newspaper supplements and related advertising papers by asking the Municipal Council to pass an ordinance to create a Township-wide registry where residents can sign-up to stop the delivery of unwanted advertising flyers and circulars.

“This Ordinance is a win-win for any Township resident or homeowner tired of picking up dozens of unwanted, unsolicited and unsubscribed-to circulars and flyers that only end up as litter in the driveway, on the front yard or in the street,” Mayor McCormac said.  “The number one complaint the Mayor’s Office receives… the number one complaint I hear when I meet with residents… is that no one wants the unsolicited newspaper supplements and other advertising circulars that are scattered up and down streets and driveways throughout Woodbridge.  This ordinance will allow residents to ’Just Say No’ to the unwanted circulars and will require distributors to obtain the “Do Not Drop” list before tossing the papers on lawns, driveways and sidewalks.”

Mayor McCormac said the proposed Ordinance will be submitted to the Municipal Council seeks the implementation of a Township-wide registry – similar to the 2004 “Do Not Knock” registry – that will allow residents to place their name and address with the Municipal Clerk for inclusion on a list which will then prohibit distributors from delivering the unwanted advertising circulars to their home or residence.

Sponsored by Second Ward Councilman Rick Dalina in response to constituent concerns, the Ordinance creates a “Do Not Drop” list where residents may register their name, address or apartment number with the Township Clerk’s Office indicating that they do not want any unsolicited circulars to be affixed to or dropped on or around their property.  Additionally, the Ordinance would require any person, company or organization in the business of delivering or dropping flyers and circulars to obtain a copy of the official “Do Not Drop” list before making deliveries throughout Woodbridge Township.  The Ordinance provides for a fine of from $50.00 to $100.00 for each violation.
“I believe this ordinance fairly addresses all of the concerns from the public’s right to not have litter dumped on or near their properties to the concerns of the businesses and advertisers that rely on this form of marketing and communication,” Councilman Dalina said. “We’re looking to offer homeowners a choice – just as they have a choice to prevent peddlers and unwanted solicitations at their front doors by registering with the ‘Do Not Knock’ registry to sign-up for ‘Do Not Drop’.”

Mayor McCormac noted that along with creating a registry, the Ordinance mandates that circulars, flyers, and unsubscribed-to newspaper supplements must be delivered or dropped within ten feet of the intended recipient’s driveway, sidewalk or pathway to the front door of the property and must be delivered so that it is visible and easily retrieved by the resident.

Once the ordinance is passed and signed into law, residents will be able to register at the Municipal Clerk’s Office in Town Hall or online at the Township Web Page at:  www.twp.woodbridge.nj.us

Since the “Do Not Knock” ordinance was passed in 2004, more than 3,470 Woodbridge Township residents have signed the registry.

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