PRINCETON: Organic waste recycling to be tested

By Stephanie Vaccaro, Staff Writer
   Township Public Works Recycling Coordinator Janet Pellichero came to the Princeton Township Committee meeting Monday to talk garbage — well, actually, organic waste.
   She said the township has worked out a joint services agreement with the Mercer County Improvement Authority regarding the curbside collection and recycling of organic waste.
   ”They have agreed to give us $30,000 toward the purchase of the containers that we are supplying the residents,” said Ms. Pellichero.
   The three-month pilot project allows for the participation of 500 residents. Currently, they have approximately 175 people who have signed up.
   Organic waste includes food waste and food-soiled paper.
   ”We’ve been working on the first curbside collection of organic material in New Jersey,” said Ms. Pellichero. “So, it’s been very, very well received. We’ve had a lot of interest in it.”
   Glad Bags USA will be supplying all the residents in the program with the biodegradable bags, said Ms. Pellichero.
   ”We don’t know where it’s going to go,” she said. “We just know that it’s going to be popular. We’d love to have some people sign up.”
   Participation comes with a condition.
   ”To join the pilot program, you have to switch your hauler to Premier Central Jersey,” said Ms. Pellichero, because Mercer County requested a report on the tonnage and having all the participants with one company will make this possible.
   To register, contact Ms. Pellichero at [email protected] or call 688-2566.