Ocean County municipalities to get shared recycling revenues More than $150,000 is being returned to Ocean County municipalities participating in the county’s recycling program. Under the Ocean County Recycling Revenue Sharing Program, twice a year, towns share in a portion of the revenues made from the sale of recyclable materials. "A soft economy has resulted in a reduced payout to the municipalities," said Ocean County Freeholder James F. Lacey, who serves as liaison to the Ocean County Department of Solid Waste Management. "However, even with the market prices being lower on recyclables, recycling is still a successful program in Ocean County, providing benefits to the environment and the economy." The revenue sharing checks that have been distributed represent the time period from July 1 to Dec. 31, 2001. Municipalities received $4.05 per ton on recyclable materials compared to $5.09 per ton during the same time period in 2000. "The amount remains higher when compared to $3.79 per ton the first six months of 1999," Lacey said. "Market trends often change." To date, the Ocean County Board of Freeholders has distributed more than $2 million to municipalities under the program that was started in 1995, according to a press release. Participating towns receive half of the revenue the county receives from the sale of recyclable materials. The total tonnage recycled was 38,219 for the six-month period and the sale of these materials generated totaled $154, 787. "Many of these towns have used this money to continue and upgrade their municipal recycling programs," Lacey said. "In addition, when materials are recycled towns save money in landfill costs," Lacey continued. "This is a win-win program. A special thanks goes to all the residents who continue to make the county’s recycling program so successful." Area communities received the following amounts: Jackson, $8,982; Lakewood, $21,009; and Plumsted, $1,123.