Dive Brief:
- Middlesex County is New Jersey’s top recycler, having recycled 71% of its total generated waste in 2013. The County has now surpassed a state mandate requiring counties to recycle at least 60% of their waste for the 17th time, according to Department of Environmental Protection data. The data shows Morris County ranked second, with a total of 66%.
- The boon may be tied to improved economic conditions and their trickle-down effect on consumer buying, Middlesex County Improvement Authority (MCIA) Recycling Manager Ed Windas said to NJ Today. Windas explained state manufacturing and road work could play a role too.
- Currently, MCIA’s curbside recycling program services 14 municipalities, including about 90,000 residents, businesses, and schools.
Dive Insight:
The newest recycling numbers mark a record high for Middlesex, as well as the sixth time the county has been the state’s top recycler.
"But it’s really a joint effort that involves many players," said Windas.
Freeholder Carol Bellante reiterated Winda’s observation: "We look at this as a group effort. It’s the residents, it’s the employees, it’s business owners – it’s everyone putting their best foot forward, as we all look to lessen our carbon footprint," said Bellante.
New Jersey’s DEP has pushed to drive up recycling rates for years, having awarded $1.4 million in state grants to promote recycling programs and more recently approving a $253 million tax break for development of a massive recycling complex in Camden.
Windas hopes that the new single-stream recycling process, available to residents since 2015, will bring more improvement to his county.
