Post by admin on Jun 15, 2009 5:43:05 GMT -5
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Freehold may consider adding recycling pickup
BY CLARE MARIE CELANO Staff Writer
FREEHOLD — Municipal officials and members of the Freehold Borough Neighborhood Pride Committee (NPC) are trying to make the town's recycling efforts go a little smoother.
The subject was discussed at the May 18 meeting of the Borough Council.
Borough Administrator Joseph Bellina discussed a suggestion from the NPC to have recyclables picked up two times a month instead of once a month as is the case now.
"The demand for recyclables, which had been plummeting, is now increasing in demand again," Bellina said.
He said public education about the importance of recycling is a key to making the program work.
"Start with a new generation, with the children in school," he said.
Bellina said he expects more bidders to submit proposals for the town's recycling contract and noted that the borough may end up paying about the same for two pickups a month as it is currently paying for one pickup a month.
Council President Marc Le Vine, who is the governing body's liaison to the NPC, said, "Until very recently, the value of recyclables was in steep decline. Most cartage companies were not motivated to pursue additional collections. With material values and interest correspondingly rebounding, the NPC's recommendation was very timely.
"It seems we are all on the same page at the exact point in time. In fact, our council finance committee and Mr. Bellina have already had preliminary discussions on this and there have been meetings with regional garbage companies to gauge their interest," Le Vine said.
"The NPC and the Borough Council both note that public opinion seems strongly in favor of addressing another recycling day each month. We expect that our residents will consider such an addition a very positive outcome. We just have to be a little patient as we review cartage company bids to determine the economic feasibility of the various recycling collection alternatives," Le Vine added.
In a letter to Mayor Michael Wilson, NPC member Daniel Xavier wrote that the recycling program in the borough is a "festering situa- tion that brings displeasure to nearly every citizen of Freehold Borough. While no one disputes the good intention, necessity or popularity of this initiative, the current program parameter of a once-a-month materials pickup has become a major annoyance among residents. As complaints lodged in the NPC suggestion box imply, the situation appears to have grown from a minor inconvenience to a key frustration."
Xavier said it was those grievances that prompted NPC members to write to the mayor and suggest two pickups a month. He said the committee feels strongly that the "positive social benefits within the community would offset any fiscal negatives (within reason.)"
NPC Chairwoman Debbie Keelan said she believes that having a two pickups of recyclable items each month will benefit residents and the borough.
"The once-a-month pickup is quite a nuisance," Keelan said. "And if you ever miss a month you're in real trouble. Everyone in town will be happier if we have a pickup twice a month. The NPC is always trying to help with even small things that can make a difference in the lives of those who live in the borough."
Bellina said one of the main theories of recycling is to divert the flow of trash from costly disposal in landfills by increasing the amount of recyclable items collected.
"There is hope that more savings could be realized with more recycling collections," he said. He said borough officials have been meeting since late in 2008 with representatives of cartage companies who provide this service.
"What these meetings produced was enough hope that by increasing our collection schedule for recycling, it will yield additional savings to the town by producing less trash going to the landfill.
"As a result, when we prepared the bidding document for the refuse recycling contract this past winter, we incorporated an option that provides for every other week recycling in addition to the once-a-month current recycling collection practice," Bellina said.
The administrator said an initial review of the bid results indicates that Freehold Borough may be able to move from one to two recycling pickups a month.
Contact Clare Marie Celano
at ccelano@gmnews.com.
Freehold may consider adding recycling pickup
BY CLARE MARIE CELANO Staff Writer
FREEHOLD — Municipal officials and members of the Freehold Borough Neighborhood Pride Committee (NPC) are trying to make the town's recycling efforts go a little smoother.
The subject was discussed at the May 18 meeting of the Borough Council.
Borough Administrator Joseph Bellina discussed a suggestion from the NPC to have recyclables picked up two times a month instead of once a month as is the case now.
"The demand for recyclables, which had been plummeting, is now increasing in demand again," Bellina said.
He said public education about the importance of recycling is a key to making the program work.
"Start with a new generation, with the children in school," he said.
Bellina said he expects more bidders to submit proposals for the town's recycling contract and noted that the borough may end up paying about the same for two pickups a month as it is currently paying for one pickup a month.
Council President Marc Le Vine, who is the governing body's liaison to the NPC, said, "Until very recently, the value of recyclables was in steep decline. Most cartage companies were not motivated to pursue additional collections. With material values and interest correspondingly rebounding, the NPC's recommendation was very timely.
"It seems we are all on the same page at the exact point in time. In fact, our council finance committee and Mr. Bellina have already had preliminary discussions on this and there have been meetings with regional garbage companies to gauge their interest," Le Vine said.
"The NPC and the Borough Council both note that public opinion seems strongly in favor of addressing another recycling day each month. We expect that our residents will consider such an addition a very positive outcome. We just have to be a little patient as we review cartage company bids to determine the economic feasibility of the various recycling collection alternatives," Le Vine added.
In a letter to Mayor Michael Wilson, NPC member Daniel Xavier wrote that the recycling program in the borough is a "festering situa- tion that brings displeasure to nearly every citizen of Freehold Borough. While no one disputes the good intention, necessity or popularity of this initiative, the current program parameter of a once-a-month materials pickup has become a major annoyance among residents. As complaints lodged in the NPC suggestion box imply, the situation appears to have grown from a minor inconvenience to a key frustration."
Xavier said it was those grievances that prompted NPC members to write to the mayor and suggest two pickups a month. He said the committee feels strongly that the "positive social benefits within the community would offset any fiscal negatives (within reason.)"
NPC Chairwoman Debbie Keelan said she believes that having a two pickups of recyclable items each month will benefit residents and the borough.
"The once-a-month pickup is quite a nuisance," Keelan said. "And if you ever miss a month you're in real trouble. Everyone in town will be happier if we have a pickup twice a month. The NPC is always trying to help with even small things that can make a difference in the lives of those who live in the borough."
Bellina said one of the main theories of recycling is to divert the flow of trash from costly disposal in landfills by increasing the amount of recyclable items collected.
"There is hope that more savings could be realized with more recycling collections," he said. He said borough officials have been meeting since late in 2008 with representatives of cartage companies who provide this service.
"What these meetings produced was enough hope that by increasing our collection schedule for recycling, it will yield additional savings to the town by producing less trash going to the landfill.
"As a result, when we prepared the bidding document for the refuse recycling contract this past winter, we incorporated an option that provides for every other week recycling in addition to the once-a-month current recycling collection practice," Bellina said.
The administrator said an initial review of the bid results indicates that Freehold Borough may be able to move from one to two recycling pickups a month.
Contact Clare Marie Celano
at ccelano@gmnews.com.
). this would seem like a good cost-cutting service. The town would still do a leaf pick-up but grass and brush would be on the burden of the property owner.