County encourages summer visitors to handle recyclables properly

Ocean County, home to 44 miles of picturesque, oceanfront beaches and other recreational shoreline, including Barnegat Bay, is kept pristine through the hard work and dedication of its municipalities that tend to its maintenance. Residents as well as visitors in the summer months also play a key role in caring for the coastline. Making sure recyclables are properly handled is especially important.

“While it may not sound like it goes hand in hand, recycling while on vacation is an activity we want our visitors to embrace,” Ocean County Freeholder James F. Lacey, liaison to the county’s recycling program, said in a press release. “We want to remind residents and visitors alike that recycling in Ocean County is just as important while you are here on vacation as it is in your own hometown.”

Photo by Ryan Morrill
County officials urge residents to keep plastic
bags out of curbside recycling containers.

More than 23,000 tons of materials were recycled in Ocean County during the summer of 2013, saving towns more than $1.6 million.

“Recycling comes with many benefits,” said Freeholder Director Joseph H. Vicari. “It saves landfill space, it protects the environment, and it helps out economically.”

Visitors are encouraged to check with their municipalities for summer recycling regulations, including what days recyclables are collected. Many municipalities also have recycling centers to drop off materials.

The county’s towns have implemented single-stream recycling, which means all cans, bottles, newspapers and junk mail may be placed at the curbside in one container. Recyclables must not be placed in plastic bags.

When using beaches and marinas, visitors and residents should look for the big, green igloos throughout the area.

“When you are leaving an area, we encourage you to deposit your recyclables in the igloo. It is much more convenient than taking them home with you or back to where you may be staying,” Lacey said. “The goal of our recycling program in Ocean County is to make it easy and convenient so people want to recycle.”

Recycling drop-off venues are also easily accessible at the county’s regional recycling centers. Residents and visitors can drop off recyclables at the Southern Ocean County Recycling Center off Haywood Road in Stafford Township as well as at the Northern Ocean County Recycling Center off New Hampshire Avenue in Lakewood. Resident recycling areas are open around the clock; the regional centers are open Monday through Saturday, 7:30 a.m. until 3 p.m.

Since the county began operating its materials processing facility in Lakewood in 1991, more than 1,324,140 tons of material has been processed, resulting in a savings of $95,549,942 by avoiding the tipping fees at the landfill. Revenue generated from sale of the material is distributed back to the municipalities. In 2013, municipalities split $739,220 from the revenue sharing program.

Now, visitors can also recycle cooking oil and cooking grease by depositing it in newly installed tanks at the regional centers. There is no fee to drop off the waste.

“Our recycling programs address many of the tasks we do every day,” Lacey said. “We have built the program so that it is convenient for everyone.”

The county’s free Household Hazardous Waste Collection program, held throughout the local area during summer, also helps assist people who need to dispose of items that cannot be tossed out in the regular trash. A collection date will be held at the Ship Bottom boat ramp, located at Shore Avenue and 10th Street, on Sept. 20 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Call 609-978-0913 to register.

For more information on recycling in Ocean County, visit co.ocean.nj.us or call 1-800-55-RECYCLE.

— Kelley Anne Essinger


This article was published in The SandPaper.