Recycling Program to be Tested in Green Brook

Somerset County is looking to test a new recycling program in Green Brook in an effort to increase the amount of paper, glass and tin recycled by residents.

Bids are being taken by the county for recycling pickup in the township and South Bound Brook using a mechanized system that will not require residents to sort their recycled items.

According to Deputy Mayor Pat Boccio, speaking at Monday's Township Committee meeting, the "single stream" recycling will allow residents to place all recyclable materials in a single barrel, which can be rolled out to streetside for pickup by a truck outfitted with an arm to pickup the barrel.

"In other areas where they've done the pilot, they've increased the tonnage (of recycled material)," Boccio said. "They want to encourage recycling, which is the point."

The change would also mean a truck with one driver could pick up recycling currently done by two- or three-man crews.

The county was scheduled to open bids Tuesday for the five-year contracts for the service.