MILLTOWN — As of Sept. 1, the Middlesex County Improvement Authority’s (MCIA) Recycling Division added Milltown to its schedule of curbside stops.
Milltown became the 15th municipality to have an interlocal agreement with the MCIA for its curbside recycling program, according to information provided by the agency. That program, established in 1995, was credited with sparing local landfills from 20,980 tons of refuse last year alone.
“The borough and the authority have always had a good working relationship,” said Ralph Jasionowski, Milltown’s recycling coordinator and public works director. “In the past, we’ve been pleased with the program in terms of services. For our residents and our taxpayers, this move was the most financially sound option.”
Originally, Milltown exited MCIA’s curbside program in 2010, opting instead to oversee its own recycling program.
“At the time, based on our inspectors’ surveys, Milltown was one of the best recyclers we had,” said MCIA Recycling Division Manager Ed Windas. “They consistently had more than a 70-percent participation rate on our bimonthly pick-ups. So we couldn’t be happier to have them back.”
In recent years, the overseas demand for recyclables has declined, affecting the stateside market, and more specifically, a diminishing revenue stream, Windas said. As a result, consumers around the country are seeing an uptick in hauling prices for recyclables.
“Haulers everywhere weren’t making money on the sale of material, so they had to increase prices for their collection,” Windas said. “We’re able to retain a discounted rate because we have a pooled contract that services multiple towns.”
Milltown’s return means the program’s curbside pick-up, offered countywide, has expanded to reach approximately 92,720 residents and businesses, according to the MCIA.
Of that sum, Milltown accounts for 2,744 single-family homes; 63 multi-family homes, apartments, townhouses and condominiums; and 85 small businesses.
“These days municipalities are taking measure of every expense,” said Middlesex County Freeholder Deputy Director Carol Bellante, liaison to the MCIA. “As a public servant, I can tell you that reexamining a budget is an arduous but necessary part of the job. So I commend Milltown for doing its due diligence, considering all options and ultimately saving constituents from any extraordinary expenditures by returning to our program.”
In addition to its curbside offerings, the MCIA’s Recycling Division also provides a yard-waste recycling program to all 25 municipalities in Middlesex County.
Presently, Milltown’s pick-ups are scheduled for every other Thursday. Borough officials have notified residents of the recent changes, and the MCIA will electronically distribute the 2017 Milltown curbside recycling pick-up schedule this fall.
For more information, visit www.mciauth.com or call 1-800-488-6242.