The Ocean County Board of Chosen Freeholders is getting ready to return more than $271,000 to county municipalities in recycling revenues.
“Recycling in Ocean County continues to provide a host of environmental and economic benefits,” said Freeholder Gerry P. Little, who serves as liaison to the Ocean County Department of Solid Waste Management. “Under the Recycling Revenue Sharing program we are able to return a portion of the proceeds from recycled materials back to our municipalities. For the period of July 1 to Dec. 31, 2015, the amount to be distributed is $271,003.
“Since we began this program in 1995 we have returned more than $15 million to our towns,” he said.
Under the Ocean County Recycling Revenue Sharing Program, municipalities are provided a portion of the recycling revenues based on the amount recycled and the market price of the material.
During the second half of 2015, Ocean County collected 42,016 tons of recyclables from its municipalities. The payout for the period was $6.45 per ton.
“Recycling comes with a host of benefits,” said Freeholder Director John P. Kelly. “One of the greatest benefits is keeping the material out of the landfill and preserving the space there.
“As a result of these recycling efforts, municipalities collectively saved almost $3 million in the second half of 2015 by not dumping those materials in the landfill where they would have to pay a tipping fee,” Kelly said.
The amount returned to the towns, under the Recycling Revenue Sharing program is based on the amount of recyclables collected and brought to the County and the price per commodity in the current market.
“These prices change all the time,” Little said. “And even though we have seen a decline in the average price of each commodity we recycle, we are still able to return money to our towns.”
For instance, corrugated cardboard is down $16 per ton to $120 per ton, old newspapers are down $7 per ton to $84 and some plastics have decreased by as much as $125 per ton in comparison to the same period in 2014.
Little said towns can use the money as needed although many invest it back into the recycling program.
The towns and the amounts they are scheduled to receive are:
Barnegat Township, $9,251; Barnegat Light, $1,141; Bay Head, $834; Beach Haven, $3,556; Beachwood, $3,126; Berkeley Township, $15,302; Brick Township, $33,539; Eagleswood Township, $810; Harvey Cedars, $1,059; Island Heights, $834; Jackson Township, $16,784; Lacey Township, $12,093; Lakehurst, $942 and Lakewood Township, $43,700.
Also, Lavallette, $2,315; Little Egg Harbor Township, $10,053; Long Beach Township, $7,508; Manchester Township, $8,386; Mantoloking, $351; Ocean Township, $2,976; Ocean Gate, $664; Pine Beach, $800; Plumsted Township, $1,838; Point Pleasant Beach, $3,771; Point Pleasant Borough, $8,902; Seaside Heights, $2,004; Seaside Park, $2,271; Ship Bottom, $2,377; South Toms River, $949; Stafford Township, $21,674; Surf City, $2,322; Toms River Township, $46,623 and Tuckerton, $2,230.
[TLS]
It’s great that we get $40,000 +
Toms River get about the same
With the same amount of resident but only collect recyclable every other week!!! So who is saving
Lakewood or toms River ?
I think the idea of reducing landfill capacity is great , but what is the cost to administer this program in light of the fact that the $ generated by the recycled product is declining significantly?
I love saving money. I hope my tax bill for next year goes down by at least 90 cents a year,