Upgrades planned for Ocean recycling center

LAKEWOOD - Extensive upgrades to the Ocean County Northern Recycling Center in Lakewood will result in environmental benefits and an overall better recycling program for county residents and municipalities, according to a press release from the county.

"Ocean County's recycling program has been rated the best in North America," said Freeholder James F. Lacey, who serves as liaison to the program. "But with these planned improvements, we will take a great program and make it even better."

The Ocean County Board of Freeholders recently awarded a five-year contract to Waste Management Recycle America of Springfield, Mass., to operate the facility, which includes processing all the center's recyclables.

"This contract, however, goes beyond the day-to-day operations of the facility," Lacey said. "This contract, which was competitively bid, also includes improvements to the center which will provide numerous benefits to Ocean County and our municipalities."

Under the contract, Waste Management Recycle America will install new processing equipment for bottles, cans, aluminum, plastic and glass in the new 26,000-square-foot building being constructed at the recycling center site off New Hampshire Avenue.

The new equipment is expected to cost about $2.9 million.

In addition, the contractor has agreed to install new equipment in the current facility that will be used specifically for the recycling of co-mingled paper which will include newsprint, magazines and cardboard, according to the press release.

"Currently, we ask our residents to separate these materials when they put them out curbside," Lacey said. "When this new equipment is in place we will be able to collect this material all together similar to our one-container collection of glass, plastics and aluminum.

"By placing all of these paper materials in one container it will make collection easier for the municipality and getting it to the curb will be more convenient for the resident," Lacey said. "The success of this recycling program has been built, in part, on the premise that it is easy and convenient for our residents."

Under the contract, the contractor will pay for the single paper stream equipment and installation.

With wear and tear taking its toll on the county's Northern Recycling Center, the freeholders agreed it was time to move ahead with plans to upgrade the facility.

"There are only so many times that we can fix the equipment," said Freeholder Director Gerry P. Little, who serves as liaison to the county's Planning Department. He noted that the improvements would help the county meet new state storm water management requirements.

"In order to meet these requirements we needed more room so we can store the recyclable materials inside away from the elements, making it virtually impossible for rain or snow to affect them and create runoff," Little said.

Because the county is constructing a new building at the site, equipment and work will be shifted between facilities and recycling processing will continue during the improvement work, according to the press release.

"We will continue to process materials without interruption," Lacey said. "It's important to make certain recyclable materials continue to be marketed during this time in order to keep the waste and revenues flowing."

Waste Management Recycle America's operating cost will be covered by the revenues generated from the sale of recyclables.

"Historically, the county has not paid for the operation of the recycling center," Lacey said. "The profit from the sale of the recyclables has been used to cover those costs."

The county also will receive 43 percent of the remaining revenues, a 3 percent increase from the current contract.

"These are the revenues that we share with the participating municipalities through our recycling revenue sharing program," Lacey said.

Since the revenue sharing program began in 1995 by the freeholders, about $7 million has been returned to municipalities for their participation in the county's recycling program.

"The towns can use this money for whatever they want," Lacey said. "Many have earmarked it for their recycling programs."

In addition, the county funds the recycling mini-grant program with revenues from the recycling center.

Ocean County's recycling minigrant program is now in its sixth year and so far, about $735,000 has been distributed to many of the municipalities participating in the county's recycling program.

Since the beginning of the program, 57 proposals were funded resulting in new recycling centers in Tuckerton, Beachwood, Little Egg Harbor Township, Berkeley Township and Ship Bottom.

In addition, those proposals included funding for significant improvements to existing recycling centers in Dover, Brick, Lakewood and Lacey townships, Point Pleasant, Lakehurst and Seaside Heights.

"This new operating contract will allow us to continue the many successful programs that have been in place and provides us with an opportunity to move the county's recycling program forward," Lacey said. "These changes will enhance this program and provide our residents with additional economic and environmental benefits."

The work, including the installation of all the new equipment, is expected to be completed by the fall of 2007.

The funding for the improvement comes from the Board of Freeholders, the Resource Recycling Investment tax fund and revenues from the facility.