Recycling continues to pay towns

Ocean County's recycling efforts continue to provide environmental and economical benefits.

Freeholder James F. Lacey, who serves as liaison to the program, recently announced the distribution of $437,637 to the municipalities that participate in the county's recycling program

"The county has returned $7.5 million to its municipalities as part of the Recycling Revenue Sharing Program," Lacey said. "This program has been very successful. We would like to see it used as an incentive for increased recycling."

According to a press release from the county, the revenue comes from the sale of recyclables collected at the county's regional recycling centers.

Lacey noted there has been a slight decline in the price being paid for such items as some plastics and cardboard.

"Yet, we have seen an increase in the price received for newsprint," Lacey said. "In general the numbers are still good, but there was a slight decline at the end of 2006."

The payout amounts are based on $12.06 per ton of material.

"That amount will result in Toms River receiving a check totaling $88,712 and Lakewood can expect $65,377 for their recycling efforts," Lacey said. "Recycling really is a program that has a good return and many benefits."

Lacey said that even smaller towns like Seaside Heights and Seaside Park do well with the recycling revenue sharing program. Seaside Heights is expected to receive $5,595 while Seaside Park will receive $5,333.

"These are two small coastal communities with very active recycling programs," Lacey said. "The county applauds their efforts and the work of all our towns to keep recycling a viable program."

Since the recycling revenue sharing program was started in 1995 by the Ocean County Board of Freeholders, about $7.5 million has been returned to municipalities for their participation in the county's recycling program.

Under the program, twice a year, towns share in half of the revenues made from the sale of recyclables.

Municipalities will share $437,637 for the six-month period of July to December 2006.

The total tonnage recycled was 36,288 for the six-month period. As a result of the tonnage recycled, towns did not pay more than $2.5 million in tipping fees to the landfill.

The following is a list of local municipalities and the amount they are scheduled to receive: Lakewood, $65,377, and Plumsted, $2,992.