By Philip Sean Curran, Staff Writer
An eco-friendly way to get rid of food and other household waste will made available to 1,000 households in Princeton on a first-come, first-served basis.
Organic trash collection, due to begin Feb.1, enables residents to throw away food, animal bones, eggshells, vegetables and other items in green containers that are supplied to them. The waste is then made into compost at a facility in Wilmington, Del.
Other permitted items include pizza boxes, liquids and sauces, grass and leaves, all under the category of what the town calls, “If it grows, it goes.”
Participating residents will still have regular recycling picked up every other Monday and regular trash collection on their scheduled days.
The award-winning program, first tested in Princeton Township in July 2011 and expanded to the borough last year, reached a combined 430 households in both communities in 2012. The consolidated town is aiming to more than double that total in 2013. Though capped at 1,000 households, the program could accept a little more if need be.
”We’re anticipating a very large response,” said Janet Pellichero, Princeton recycling coordinator, in a phone interview Friday
The combined Princeton has 7,200 residences. Residents must pay a $65 fee to participate in the program.
The curbside collection program, the first of its kind in New Jersey, is seen as a creative way to reduce the amount of trash that goes into landfills and at the same save the town money in trash disposal costs.
Ms. Pellichero said it costs $125 per ton to dispose of trash in the county.
Participants in the program are issued a 32-gallon green wheeled container, a smaller kitchen container and trash bags. Collection is every Wednesday.
Residents cannot throw everything into their green organic containers. Pet waste, plastics, metals, aluminum and Styrofoam are prohibited, she said.
Information about the program including how to register can be found at the town website, www.princetonnj.gov or by calling the Princeton Public Works department at 609-688-2566.

