8/13/2010 - Cumberland County Leads State In Recycling

Cumberland County was the state leader in recycling in 2008, according to state and county officials.

The 2008 generation, disposal and recycling rates in New Jersey posted last week by the NJ Department of Environmental Protection revealed Cumberland County lead the state in recycling rates. The statistics calculated the county's recycling rate in 2008 at 56.5 percent for municipal solid waste, and 72.6 percent total waste stream.

Cumberland is the only county above the 70% recycling rate for total waste stream, according to state officials.

The recycling rate in New Jersey averaged 37.9 percent for municipal solid waste and 59.1 percent for total waste stream.

"The (Cumberland County Improvement) Authority has instituted many shared services recycling programs with our school districts and municipalities that have helped increase our recycling tonnage," said Joseph Veight, treasurer of the CCIA Board, in a released statement.

The statement continued: "These shared services include universal waste depots making it convenient for residents to recycle motor oil, antifreeze, fluorescent bulbs, rechargeable batteries, and electronics including computers and televisions."

According to Dennis DeMatte, county recycling coordinator, electronic items such as computers and televisions will be banned from disposal sites across New Jersey beginning in 2011, in conjunction with the Electronics Waste Management Act adopted in 2007 and amended in 2008.

CCIA officials added recycling helps local municipalities obtain tonnage grant funding from the State. Tonnage from the 2007 grant earned Cumberland County municipalities more than $500,000.