Recycling Declines, Costing Borough Money

It seems like an easy rule to follow: Separate recyclables from trash.

But the recycling rate has dropped over the last decade in Bergen County, a noticeable trend in Paramus as well, Public Works Superintendent Guy Picone said.

Many residents are throwing out recyclable material with their regular garbage, Picone said. While it may save them time, it costs the Borough money to dispose of more solid waste.

It's doubly expensive because the Borough gets paid for recyclable material.

In 2011 the Borough collected 1,291 tons of commingled recyclables like bottles and plastic cans, 2,406 tons of paper and cardboard, 215 tons of metal and 47 tons of electronics, generating $241,974 in revenue. Meanwhile, the Borough paid $604,630 to dispose of solid waste.

The state Department of Environmental Protection has data that shows that the recycling rate in Bergen County dropped from 61.7% of disposed material in 1999 to 55.1% in 2009, the latest year for which data is available. Part of the reason is that recyclable materials and the products that contain them are becoming lighter and smaller, Picone said, but it's not the entire reason.

"One cause is the materials are lighter, but yes, people aren't recycling the amount of material we should be recycling," he said.

Gerald Anthony, the chairman of the Paramus Environmental Commission, said the commission has been trying to encourage recycling in public areas like Van Saun Park. Anthony is pushing the county to install recycling bins in the barbecue area of the park, where bottles and cans are left strewn on the ground.

"It seems that environmental issues always get pushed to the side during harder economic times," Anthony said.

Recycling can be convenient for residents, who have their recyclables collected from their driveways by the Department of Public Works. Businesses don't have the same luxury, however, leading to a lot of recyclables being thrown out with the trash, Picone said.

The Department of Public Works is piloting a business recycling program to help businesses get into the habit. The department is collecting recyclables free from a handful of businesses in the program, Picone said.

Any businesses interested in participating should contact the Department of Public Works at (201) 265-2100 extension 658.

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