Ocean County Board of Chosen Freeholders is getting ready to distribute almost $270,000 to its municipalities that participate in the County’s recycling program.

“The success of recycling in Ocean County is again allowing us to return almost $270,000 through the Recycling Revenue Sharing Program to our municipalities,” said Freeholder James F. Lacey, who serves as liaison to the county’s recycling program. “Since we began this program we have returned more than $15 million to our towns.

“Recycling continues to pay in a big way in Ocean County and we want to encourage everyone – citizens, businesses and towns – to recycle,” Lacey said.

Under the Ocean County Revenue Recycling Sharing Program, municipalities are provided a portion of the recycling revenues based on the amount recycled.

During the second half of 2014, Ocean County collected 41,983 tons of recyclables from its municipalities. The payout per ton for this period was $6.36 per ton.

“Recycling comes with a host of benefits,” said Freeholder Director John C. Bartlett Jr. “One of the greatest benefits is keeping the material out of the landfill and preserving the space there.

“As a result of these recycling efforts, municipalities collectively saved almost $3 million in the second half of 2014 by not dumping those materials in the landfill where they would have to pay a tipping fee,” Bartlett said.

Since 1995, the county has distributed over $15 million to the municipalities that participate in the county’s recycling program through its Recycling Revenue Sharing Program. 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.

“These prices change all the time,” Lacey said. “What was high in the first half of a year may be on the decrease in the second half. It is based on what the market dictates.”

Lacey said the price of commodities like corrugated cardboard and newspapers continue to decrease.

“Newspapers and tin cans are both down by $26 a ton as compared to the second half of 2013,” Lacey said.

Lacey added materials like aluminum continue to have a high demand selling for $1,674 a ton, which is a $552 a ton increase from 2013.

Lacey said towns can use the money as needed although many invest it back into the recycling program.

“If a road needs to be fixed, or a park needs to be upgraded, this money can help with those projects,” Lacey said. “This is a return on their recycling effort.”

Lacey noted recycling numbers increased after the County implemented single stream recycling allowing all materials from newspapers to plastic soda bottles be placed in one container at the curb.

“We make every effort to keep this program as convenient as possible,” Lacey said.

The towns and the amounts they are scheduled to receive are: Barnegat Township, $8,633; Barnegat Light, $1,078; Bay Head, $835; Beach Haven, $3,501; Beachwood, $3,184; Berkeley Township, $13,164; Brick Township, $31,939; Eagleswood Township, $858; Harvey Cedars, $1,075; Island Heights, $826; Jackson Township, $17,267; Lacey Township, $14,105; Lakehurst, $798 and Lakewood Township, $41,212.

Also, Lavallette, $2,219; Little Egg Harbor Township, $9,707; Long Beach Township, $6,921; Manchester Township, $10,469; Mantoloking, $322; Ocean Township, $3,063; Ocean Gate, $833; Pine Beach, $804; Plumsted Township, $1,307; Point Pleasant Beach, $3,622; Point Pleasant Borough, $11,006; Seaside Heights, $2,027; Seaside Park, $2,130; Ship Bottom, $2,099; South Toms River, $902; Stafford Township, $21,082; Surf City, $2,432; Toms River Township, $45,435, and Tuckerton, $2,138.

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