Basking Ridge Challenged To Recycle 500 Pounds Of Plastic Bags

BASKING RIDGE, NJ — Basking Ridge residents are being challenged to recycle 500 pounds of thin film plastic garbage within six months so that the township can get a high-performance park bench made of recycled plastic from Trex.

The Trex Challenge is being hosted the Bernards Township Environmental Commission and Basking Ridge Business Alliance (BRBA) and will run through April 14, 2020.

Trex, a company that specializes in composite decking, furniture and other eco-friendly products, aggregates the thin film plastics collected and repurposes them to create outdoor benches.

"Thin film plastics" are everyday items: Grocery bags and produce bags; case overwrap, pallet wrap and stretch film; dry cleaning bags, newspaper sleeves, ice bags, wood pellet bags, bubble wrap and air pillow (think Amazon shipping), empty and clean cereal bags and bread bags.

These items are currently not recyclable in Somerset County.

Joan Bannan Harris, Township Committee Liaison to the Environmental Commission stated, "We’re excited about this recycling challenge. According to Trex, 500 pounds collected is equal to about 38,000 plastic bags. By participating in this planet-friendly challenge, Bernards’ residents are helping to protect our environment."

Collection bins will be set up around town at the following locations:

• Bernards Township Public Library, 32 South Maple Ave.
• Somerset Hills YMCA, 140 Mt. Airy Road
• Postal Annex, 403 King George Road (Dewy Meadow)
• WABBA Travel, 66 South Finley Ave.
• Keller Williams Towne Square Realty, 222 Mt. Airy Road
• Bernards Township Engineering Services Building, 277 South Maple Ave.
• Pill Hill Recycling Center, Pill Hill Road

All items must be clean, dry, and free of food residue. Only items placed in these Trex Challenge bins – not any other bins – will count toward the Trex Challenge.

"Our mission is to focus on helping businesses and the community work together, nurturing positive growth and interaction, and to preserve those unique qualities that make Basking Ridge a very special place in which to live and work. Participating in the Trex recycling challenge achieves those goals," Jim Foti, VP and events coordinatorof the BRBA.

The Acme in Warren will be consolidating the bags for shipment to Trex.

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