Environmental Commission to Businesses: Recycle

The Paramus Environmental Commission is planning to send a letter to Paramus merchants reminding them to recycle.

In a report before the commission at its last meeting, Department of Public Works Superintendent Guy Picone said local businesses seldom recycled, and instead often mix recyclable materials with garbage in dumpsters.

"One of the biggest problems I see is getting commercial on board to recycle," he said.

Businesses are required by state law to recycle, Commission Chairman Chairman Gerald Anthony said. In addition to breaking the law, businesses hurt the Borough financially when they don't recycle, he added.

Paramus gets a credit for the number of tons it recycles, Picone said. However, very few businesses, as little as 10% by his estimate, deposit recyclables off at the Borough recycling center.

Unlike with residences, the Borough doesn't pick up recycling at commercial properties. Picone said the Borough didn't have the manpower.

Anthony said he hoped the letter would encourage businesses to be more proactive.

"We want to remind all merchants that according to state law, they're supposed to be recycling all recyclable materials," he said.

The Commission is hoping to pair the letter with a regular mailing from the Borough, to save money. It will be sent to the more than 1,000 licensed businesses in Paramus.