Plastics recycling options to be mulled

The former plan was too expensive for taxpayers so four or five other options will be presented to the Lambertville City Council at its meeting Nov. 20.

By: Linda Seida
   LAMBERTVILLE — Residents who want to see a plastics recycling program instituted in the city may have the opportunity after all if several options scheduled to be presented by a new Recycling Committee turn out to be economical and practical.
   One version of a plastics recycling program was rejected by officials in August because of the cost and the limited types of plastics that could be accommodated.
   The eight-member committee will present a report on recommended options during a meeting of the City Council on Nov. 20 at 7:30 p.m.
   The committee went "a lot deeper" into researching options for plastics recycling than the one originally discussed by officials two months ago, said committee Chairman Georg Hambach, who is chairman of the city’s Environmental Commission. "We have done thorough research on what’s out there. There are viable options that are both economical and feasible."
   The committee is preparing to present about four or five new options, but, at this point, it’s too early to discuss specifics, according to Mr. Hambach.
   "It’ll probably be three more weeks before we can even put a draft report together," he said.
   The version already rejected by the City Council could have led to higher taxes to cover the estimated cost of $134,000 to institute the program. If council members had approved it, the question of whether to institute the program would have gone to voters as a ballot question. But residents in August already were objecting to the cost.
   An additional tax rate of 2 cents for every $100 of assessed valuation would have been needed. For the owner of a home assessed at the city average of $330,775, it would have meant a tax increase of about $66.
   In that early version, the only types of plastics that would have been accepted were laundry detergent containers and bottles that hold milk, soda and water.
   The city’s curbside recycling collection now includes only newspapers, magazines, glass bottles and aluminum, tin and metal cans.
   In addition to Mr. Hambach, the Recycling Committee is comprised of residents Amy Wells, John O’Brien, Beth O’Brien, Chuck Kaufmann and Maura McManimon; Environmental Commission member Piper Trelstad; and Public Works Director and Recycling Coordinator Paul Cronce.