By DON STINE
Ocean Township is amending and revising its recycling efforts- a move that will save taxpayers at least $200,000 in the first year alone, officials said.
“Basically we are trying to bring costs down,” said Laurie McGrath, the township’s recycling coordinator.
The new recycling schedule goes into effect Jan 5. Residents will be receiving a letter soon about the changes in the recycling process and schedules.
McGrath said the changes will affect resident’s only- not commercial pickups.
“This move will likely save us $200,000 a year to start by retiring two older trucks and no longer needing separate employees to man the trucks. No jobs will be lost, however,” she said.
Under the revised recycling program, cardboard and box-board, like cereal boxes, may be placed at the curbside for pickup. The township does not collect either product now.
“You will have to combine it with newspaper and junk mail- it can all go together,” McGrath said. “We are gearing toward a single-stream collection of recyclables in an effort to reduce costs and to simplify the collection process. We will now pickup all paper products at the same time.”
Commingled recyclables, like cans, bottles, and plastics, can also be put out with the cardboard and newspapers on the same day but in separate containers only.
“It will all eventually be Commingled and then processed but Monmouth County officials still want it in separate containers in case there is a need to abandon the single-stream collection system in the future,” McGrath said.
Bulk materials will also be picked up on the same day but on a separate pickup from the other recyclables.
Garbage collection schedules will remain the same but the recyclable schedules will change.
Residents with a Monday/ Thursday garbage pickup will have all their recyclables collected on the first and third Wednesday of the month.
Residents with a Tuesday/Friday garbage collection will have all their recyclables picked up on the second and fourth Wednesday of the month.
All recycling and garbage containers will also be allowed to increase in size, from the maximum 36-gallon container required now to a 45-gallon container but with a weight limit of 50 pounds.
Recyclable and bulk items cannot be at the curbside before 6 p.m. the night before pick up and should be out at the curb by 6 a.m. on the collection day.
Brush can also be put into up to three 45-gallon containers, with the weight limit, and will be picked up with garbage collection.
Beginning in Jan. and Feb. brush will be collected at the curb but only if placed in containers. No leaves will be collected during these two months.
In March and April leaf collection will be done by zone at curbside but brush will still need to be containerized.
From May through Sept. brush only will be collected by zone and can loss at the curbside and containers are not necessary. No leaves will be collected.
During Oct., Nov. and Dec. leaf collection will continue by zone and brush will have to be containerized.
Grass clippings are still banned from the recycling program.
McGrath said the revised recycling program should also help keeps the curbsides, storm drains, and local waterways a bit neater and cleaner.
Metal, which is now collected twice a month, will be picked up on the fifth Wednesday of the month, thus limiting collection to four times a year.
Concrete collection will remain by appointment.
To find out what zone you live in or for more information go to www.OceanTwp.org or call 732-531-5000, extensions 362, 363 or 364.
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Published every Thursday.
We actually have a blue bin method for our paper and cardboard products. What happens if it rains? Doesn’t this create more waste?