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County Wants To Step Up Recycling Efforts At Marinas
TOMS RIVER - Residents and visitors alike love Ocean County's waterways for recreational use, and now the county is looking at ways to step up recycling efforts of boaters and those who use area marinas.
"We want to provide the resources to help increase recycling efforts at marinas and our beaches," said Freeholder James F. Lacey, who serves as liaison to the county's recycling program. "We are looking at providing additional receptacles for shrink-wrap and for the substantial volume of bottles and cans that are thrown away."
To help fund the effort, Ocean County will apply to the state for two grants, requesting at least $15,000 for the shrink-wrap recycling program and $110,000 to purchase 50 recycling containers known as igloos.
"We have conducted a shrink wrap program for the past six years and our proposal to the state Department of Environmental Protection will provide for its expansion to several municipalities," Lacey said.
With the state funding, the county would purchase three to five cubic yard roll off containers and place them at municipal recycling centers in Brick and Toms River townships and Point Pleasant.
"These three municipalities have the highest number of marinas and public boat ramps in Ocean County," Lacey said.
Lacey said if the county's request for a $25,000 grant is approved, it would then use the additional money to provide the containers for Waretown and Little Egg Harbor Township.
Residents can currently recycle shrinkwrap by bringing it to the county's regional recycling centers located in Lakewood and Stafford townships. Shrink-wrap is the plastic wrap used to protect boats during the winter months.
"By placing these new containers in municipal recycling centers, it would help to further the program," Lacey said. "In 2006, we recycled 65 tons of shrink wrap."
Lacey said expanding the igloo recycling program would provide greater opportunities for boaters to recycle bottles and cans and dispose of their solid waste properly.
"The county has conducted an igloo recycling program for 15 years and our
primary locations are the ocean beaches,
bay front parks and marinas," Lacey said. "These areas generate a significant volume
of bottles and cans."
A recycling igloo is a large green dome with a large capacity that serves as a reminder to the public to recycle bottles and cans.
"If we are successful in obtaining the $110,000 grant under the I Boat NJ Program, we will purchase 50 adwhen ditional igloos for distribution at boat launching sites and marinas," Lacey said. "The 209 marinas in Ocean County service thousands of boats each day."
"If recycling opportunities are provided, a vast majority of the boaters will use them," Lacey said. "In addition to reducing litter on our waterways, the recycling of plastic bottles significantly reduces our greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to global warming."
Freeholder John P. Kelly said the igloos help to reinforce the recycling message.
"We have visitors from throughout the state and the country," Kelly said. "It's important they join our residents in recycling. This is a convenient way of getting everyone to pitch in."
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