DEP Awards Towns $3.6 Million to Support Municipal Recycling
In mid-September DEP Commissioner Bradley M. Campbell announced
$3.6 million in municipal and county grants to help local recycling
programs recover more materials for reuse.
"For the second year in a row we are funding towns and counties
for successful recycling operations," said Commissioner Campbell.
"This funding represents one step in our efforts to increase recycling
rates that have lagged in New Jersey since the mid 1990s."
DEP is updating its Statewide Solid Waste Management Plan to
identify ways to increase recycling and composting, as well as to improve
source reduction and the removal of household hazardous waste from the
normal disposal stream. DEP held public hearings in 2003 to get comments
from interested parties on a draft of the plan and expects to release
a new proposal for public comment early this fall.
In December 2002, Governor James E. McGreevey signed the Clean
Communities and Recycling Grant Act into law to make this funding available
for municipal and county recycling efforts after previous funding lapsed.
The Clean Communities anti-litter program also regained funding at this
time, which amounted to $9.8 million in grants to towns and counties
in spring 2004. Clean communities funds can be used to purchase or rent
equipment and receptacles, as well as to provide trash bags, gloves
and other protective clothing to encourage towns and volunteers to clean
up solid waste in their localities.
The recycling grant awards are performance based, specifically on documented
materials recycled during calendar year 2002, the latest statistics
available for the state. In 2002, New Jersey generated 19.3 million
tons of solid waste and recycled 10.3 million tons, or 53 percent of
the total amount. This amount includes not only glass, cans, plastic
and newspapers from municipal waste, but also scrap iron, concrete,
wood and other items from commercial waste. The 2002 municipal solid
waste recycling rate was 33 percent, down from a high of 45 percent
in 1995. Measures to increase the municipal recycling rate will be a
key component of the state's solid waste management plan update.
The remaining 9 million tons of solid waste generated but not recycled
in 2002 was disposed of in the following manner: 1.5 million tons, or
8 percent, incinerated in state; 3.8 million, or 20 percent, landfilled
in New Jersey; and, 3.7 million, or 19 percent, landfilled out of state.
New Jersey's recycling industry employs more than 27,000 people in
New Jersey with total receipts valued at $5.9 billion annually.
Updated "Grass...Cut it & Leave it" Brochure
This popular brochure was updated this summer. The Bureau
of Recycling and Planning printed and distributed 50,000 copies. The
main focus of this brochure is to discourage the collection of grass
at the curb. The new brochure also aims to encourage a more environmentally
friendly take on lawn care, including the reduction of chemical use.
For more information, contact Sondra
Flite.
New Jersey Recycling Forum & Association of New Jersey Recyclers
20th Annual Symposium
& Luncheon
On Wednesday, October 20, 2004, the New Jersey Recycling Forum
and the Association of New Jersey Recyclers (ANJR) will sponsor the
20th Annual Symposium and Luncheon at the Forsgate Country Club in Monroe
Township, NJ. At the Luncheon the Department of Environmental Protection
will present awards to honor major achievements attained by individuals,
businesses, schools, other institutions, organizations, and the recycling
industry in the recycling and source reduction fields. The theme of
this year's Symposium is "The Roaring 20's." For more information,
visit http://www.anjr.com
or contact Vicki Kerekes.
Convenience Stores Compliance with Recycling Plan Requirements
In early July, The Division of Solid and Hazardous Waste sent a
letter to many corporations that operate chains of convenience stores,
informing them of their need to comply with New Jersey's Recycling Act,
and requiring submission of a recycling plan, showing how they intend
to bring their stores into compliance.
The purpose of this initiative is to divert single-serve beverage containers
from the waste stream, by allowing easy recycling by patrons, especially
those getting out of cars with empty containers. If collection bins
are placed near the garbage cans already provided, patrons will be able
to separate their recyclables when they are away from home. The Division
pursued this action upon discussion with county officials who reported
the general lack of opportunity for citizens to recycle in public or
retail spaces. For more information, contact Sondra
Flite.
Join
us on October 26 -27, Northampton, MA, to discuss some of the hottest
topics in recycling today. NERC's Fall Conference will feature sessions
on the slumping beverage container markets; the invisible recyclables
- markets for coal ash, foundry sand and paper mill sludge; what we
can do as a region to move the recycling industry forward, instead of
waiting for national leadership; toxics in packaging - legislation,
effects on packaging manufacturers bottom line, and what is still needed
to increase its visibility; environmental auditing of electronics -
learn why this is important for selecting electronics recycling services
and how to conduct your own audit. The complete agenda is posted at
The
Toxics in Packaging Clearinghouse (TPCH) 
NERC
has been selected as the 
Web Link. Carlisle Fairgrounds, Gate 3, Route 34 - October 9th,
9 - 3. Call Justin Miller, 717-240-6489, for additional information.