Recycling Creates Revenue In Berkeley Township

BERKELEY, NJ — Reduce, reuse and recycle. By doing your part, you actually help all of Berkeley Township, thanks to Ocean County's recycle revenue sharing program. In the first half of 2022, Ocean County announced the largest revenue sharing grants since the program's inception in 1995.

This is the first year the program has returned since a forced hiatus in 2018, when the market for recyclables virtually collapsed after China announced it would no longer purchase many materials from United States suppliers.

The County returned more than $966,832 in the first half of 2022 to the 33 municipalities that take part in the program, the Ocean County Board of Commissioners announced.

Of that, $62,999 went to Berkeley, who in total recycled 2,137 tons, officials said, making it the fifth-highest revenue generated in Ocean County.

"I know as a community we can do better," said Berkeley Mayor Carmen Amato, encouraging residents to continue recycling.

"Keep in mind for every ton we recycle we save approximately $81.00 in tipping fees at the landfill. If we didn't recycle, the additional cost to the Township would exceed $200,000," Amato said.

“Every ounce of material that is recycled stays out of our landfill,” Commissioner Deputy Director Virginia E. “Ginny” Haines said. “Not only are we protecting the environment, but we are making money instead of spending money on landfill fees.”