Brick Collects $111K From Recycling As Program Evolves

Brick Township will receive $111,039 from the state in the form of a recycling tonnage grant.

The grant is based on how many tons of recyclable materials a municipality collects in a given year, and dovetails with what has been a consistent message proclaimed by township officials: recycling means cash back to the community.

"Recycling is an easy and effective way to keep our towns and communities beautiful while having a positive impact on our environment," said Senator James Holzapfel, whose office announced the grant amounts this week. "The DEP’s Recycling Tonnage Grant awards enable our municipalities to continue to provide an important service to their residents."

The latest grants were based on 2010 tonnage amounts.

The Brick Township council voted in May to authorize a $3,709,085 bond measure which will allow the public works department to switch to automated recycling. The bond amount will cover the purchase of six automated trucks,  about 30,000 cans for residents, plus dumpsters for condominium units and schools.

Business Administrator Scott Pezarras, at the time, said Toms River saw a 15 percent jump in recycling participation once it began its automated program. For every 10 percent increase in participation comes an extra $210,000 net benefit for the township, he said.

That amount alone, he said, would cover the cost of the debt service on the bond.

In August, township officials noticed a slight dip in the number of residents who recycle. Participation over the previous quarter dropped to 36 percent from 38 percent.

Targeting educational campaigns to encourage recycling could get easier once the automated system is up and running, official say.

Modern automated recycling cans come with tiny chips located inside that are tracked when the truck dumps its contents.