Ocean County officially ushered in a new era of recycling recently with a ribbon-cutting ceremony marking the completion of changes at the Northern Ocean County Recycling Center that allows for single-stream recycling.
The Northern Ocean County Recycling Center is on New Hampshire Avenue, Lakewood.
“We have talked about this for some time, preparing towns that a beneficial change to recycling was coming,” said Freeholder Director James F. Lacey, who serves as liaison to the county’s recycling program. “Today we are happy to recognize the completion of this work and to highlight our ongoing commitment to recycling.”
The Single Stream Processing Center at the Northern Ocean County Recycling Center has been a public-private partnership between Ocean County and Waste Management Recycle America, Lacey noted.
According to a press release, Waste Management made an investment of more than $3 million in the single-stream processing modifications, while the county contributed close to $1 million in replacing the aging baler, electrical upgrades and observation gallery modifications.
“We know that our residents and municipalities are already benefiting from this project, which is making recycling easier,” Lacey said.
All bottles, cans, newspapers, cardboard, junk mail, magazines and mixed paper can now be placed in one container and placed at the curb.
“Not only does this make recycling simpler for the homeowner, but it also allows our municipalities to collect recyclables in a more efficient and cost-effective manner,” Lacey said.
According to the press release, initial reports indicate that recycling tonnage has increased by 20 percent and municipalities are starting to see a growing financial impact as a result of less material going to the landfill.
Lacey noted that nearly all towns have adopted single-stream collection at this point.
Lakewood was the first town to use automated collection for single stream, closely followed by Stafford Township. Toms River is currently distributing containers and expects to fully implement single-stream recycling by next month.
“Today we are here to highlight the success of this change so far, and I also want to use the occasion to say thank you to everyone who was involved in this project for their wonderful cooperative effort to bring it to completion,” Lacey said. “Without the combined talents of Waste Management Recycle America, RRT Design and Construction, Hatch Mott MacDonald, Fai-Gon Electric, R.F. Simon and our county staff, we would not be here today.
“We have taken recycling to a new level in Ocean County, and I am certain the benefits we have already seen will continue to increase over time,” Lacey said.
Ocean County announced in April that municipalities, if they wanted, or private haulers could begin collecting recyclables all mixed together.
“We did not mandate this on the county level, but we strongly suggested it based on the number of benefits that come with it,” said Lacey. “There is no better or more convenient way to recycle.”
Even though the county processing facility began accepting single-stream recyclables in the spring, municipalities continue to make the change at their own convenience, according to the press release. Residents will receive notification from their municipality on when the change will be implemented on the local level.
For those using single-stream recycling, Lacey noted that residents should not tie newsprint or cardboard in bundles or place recyclables in a plastic bag.
“That is no longer necessary and it can damage the newly installed equipment at the processing facility,” Lacey said.
County officials believe implementing single stream will result in better and more efficient collection of materials and also a greater amount of materials recycled, according to the press release.
“The more we recycle, the more we tap into the environmental and economical benefits that come with this practice,” Lacey said. “Ocean County is the first public materials processing facility in New Jersey to make the change to single stream.
“I want to commend the many towns that have already begun the process, and I want to thank all of our residents who continue to embrace this very important program,” Lacey said.