Trash To Treasure: Lakewood To Receive 2nd Largest Recycling Rebate Check In County

Despite a global dip in the recyclable commodities market, Ocean County’s recycling program continues to save municipalities millions of dollars each year. “We saw the selling prices for nearly all of our recyclable materials fall this year, but our recycling efforts still saved municipalities more than $2.5 million,” said Freeholder James F. Lacey.

From January 1st through June 30th, municipalities recycled 35,819 tons of paper, plastic, glass, cardboard and other materials.

By keeping that waste out of the landfill, the towns saved $2,550,683 in tipping fees so far in 2012, Lacey said.

“Our recycling program continues to be one of the most successful in all of North America,” Lacey said. “Working together with our municipalities we have also distributed more than $13 million back to the towns since 1995.”

For the first six months of this year, $486,066 was returned to municipalities as part of the county’s revenue sharing program.

“During tough economic times this return to the towns is not only a benefit but an incentive to continue these great recycling practices,” Lacey said.

The amount returned to the towns is based on the amount of recyclables collected and brought to the county and the price per commodity in the current market.

The payout for the period of January to June was $13.57 a ton. The payout for the last six months of 2011 was $19.29 a ton.

Lacey said the falling commodity market is a result of the weakened global economy.

“We’ve seen the selling prices of some plastics fall nearly $240 a ton since the beginning of the year,” Lacey said. “Aluminum is down $200 and tin $120.”

Despite these price drops, towns are still saving money and protecting the environment, said Freeholder Director Gerry P. Little.

“This revenue sharing program has given us the ability to turn trash into treasure,” Little said. “The recycling program, under the leadership of Jim Lacey, remains profitable economically and environmentally.”

The towns and the amounts they are scheduled to receive are: Barnegat Township, $17,873; Barnegat Light, $1,332; Bay Head, $1,373; Beach Haven, $3,670; Beachwood, $6,699; Berkeley Township, $23,631; Brick Township, $51,142; Eagleswood Township, $1,398; Harvey Cedars, $891; Island Heights, $1,429; Jackson Township, $30,758; Lacey Township, $26,351; Lakehurst, $1,711; Lakewood Township, $74,821; Lavallette, $3,195; Little Egg Harbor Township, $18,191; Long Beach Township, $7,314; Manchester Township, $20,069; Mantoloking, $524; Ocean Township, $5,946; Ocean Gate, $1,611; Pine Beach, $1,630; Plumsted Township, $3,578; Point Pleasant Beach, $6,617; Point Pleasant Borough, $21,931; Seaside Heights, $4,073; Seaside Park, $3,224; Ship Bottom, $2,919; South Toms River Township, $1,683; Stafford Township, $37,713; Surf City, $2,624; Toms River Township, $95,246; Tuckerton, $4,886. TLS.

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19 COMMENTS

  1. and with all the money that WE the towns people help the Township SAVE and Make Money, they make us pay $$$$ for aditional Yellow cans. Welcome to lakewoood!!!

  2. Response to #4 Lakewood has more residents but Toms River has more businesses. Supermarkets and Department stores generate large amounts of recycling (cardboard in particular).

  3. to be honest, I’ve been recycling much more now ever since we have the big yellow cans. The old blue ones didn’t have a lit and squirells would always climb in there.

  4. The yellow bins keep the streets much cleaner. The old blue ones were lightweight and round. They would roll around the minute the wind would start blowing.

  5. Steve many department stores have moved away from cardboard. Lakewood has plenty of shopping and department stores (What about all those empty daiper cases, they should at least be equal) It doesn’t make sense why Lakewood is not #1.

  6. Without knowing if or how much more it costs to collect the recycled garbage (as opposed to not recycling) it’s impossible to know how much the township really “saved”.

  7. The Township would make a lot more money if the scavengers that show up Tuesday night before the Wed bulk pick up were stopped for stealing. They are steeling because they take the bulk and sell it for their profit. We call DPW to schedule a pick up and when the truck gets there the bulk is gone, what a waste of gas and manpower to pick up something that is not there.

  8. Recycling saves money by cost avoidance associated with landfill dumping fees. Household garbage costs $71.21 per ton to dispose of at the Manchester Landfill. The Ocean County recycling center paid Lake wood township $13.57 per ton of recycling delivered. Recycling pays off 3 ways, #1 Landfill cost avoidance, #2 money paid by the county recycling center and #3 money paid by the State recycling grant.

  9. You would be right if the town was taking recycling to the landfill before the prog started but they were going to the recycling center either way except now they pick it up from different cans with different trucks they could have done the same with the old cans and old trucks and still got the same check!!

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