Washington Township Mayor Debunks Recycling Center Rumors

LONG VALLEY, NJ - No one can accuse Washington Township Mayor Matt Murello of being unresponsive. Murello, a few weeks into his second consecutive term in the post, maintains a strong social media presence and addresses everything from award ceremonies, traffic accidents and everything in between. This week, Murello tackled a rumor about the closing of the recycling center.

Murello noted he had been contacted by several people who told him that they had heard
rumors spreading that the town is closing the recycling center in June.

"We received notice that the cost to haul away our recycling, bottle, cans and paper, would increase next year by more than $25,000," Murello posted to his Facebook page. "This increase would exceed the amount that the Township receives in grants to operate this center and the additional cost would need to come from somewhere else in the budget."

Murello said that the governing body posed the question to the Department of Public Works, Green Team and Environmental Commission if this increase in cost justifies keeping the center open.

"The responses we received back from all three groups were either to reduce operations or close the facility or charge residents a fee for the use," Murello said.

Murello said that during the current budgeting process thus far, three open meetings, they received only a budgetary request from the DPW for the additional funds to operate the recycling center for the Committee to consider.

"No final decision has been made by the Committee. If a decision is made to change operations of the recycling center, notice will be made by the Township," he said. "The Committee will make this decision this month and will always try to balance the needs of the residents with the budgetary constraints of our Township."

Murello noted that this conversation was only regarding the bottles, cans and paper side of the center and that all other areas of the center are not part of this discussion.

"The rumors that the Township was closing the center this June, are just that, rumors, started by someone who is only passively involved with the decision making process, clearly does not pay attention," Murello said."Please know that I always try to balance these issues with cost to provide the services."

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