As we prepare for the many end-of-the-year festivities, and the heaps of holiday wrapping, cardboard boxes and ribbon that will be generated, it is the ideal time to discuss the importance of recycling.
We held an informative program at the Shady Rest Clubhouse on Tuesday night, in which township officials and volunteers with the Scotch Plains Green Team discussed recycling. The program was called: “Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, & Rethink the holidays.”
American waste increases by an estimated 25% between Thanksgiving & New Year’s Day - that’s about 1 million tons! Meanwhile, an estimated 133 billion pounds of edible food (worth more than $161 billion) goes to waste every year in our nation, filling our landfills.
Recycling in Scotch Plains is easy. Two years ago, the Township Council decided to increase the amount of recycling pick-ups to weekly, rather than every other week.
There was no additional cost to taxpayers for this enhanced service, and we have seen this weekly pick-up schedule generate more recyclables – a real win for the local environment! We are also fortunate to have single-stream recycling, which means it all goes out in one bin, rather than having residents separate paper from glass and other items.
So what items should we be recycling? Download a free app here for all the information you need.
It is important to follow recycling rules. Contamination happens when anything besides
recyclables end up in our recycling bin, such as food, liquids, tanglers (hoses, plastic bags, hangers), plastics that are not #1 or #2 (or #5 where applicable) or scrap metals. So, when in doubt, just throw it out.
To help with all the guidance involving recycling, Scotch Plains residents are urged to download a handy, free app known as “Recycle Coach.” By entering your address, you will get your exact solid waste schedule for curbside collections, Union County recycling events and local recycling opportunities in Scotch Plains.
You can also sign up to receive notifications to remind you of these events, such as when you need to shred paper or dispose of electronics, as well as search any trash item to confirm if it is recyclable in Scotch Plains.
Every Thursday from 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. at the DPW yard, 2445 Plainfield Ave., residents can drop off Styrofoam for disposal. The Westfield Conservation Center, 1300 Lamberts Mill Rd., also accepts Styrofoam.
I would like to thank the Scotch Plains Green Team for its tremendous diligence throughout the year, ensuring our community is beautiful and litter-free. If you would like to join the Green Team in 2023, please reach out to me at estamler@scotchplainsnj.com
As you enjoy the holidays in Scotch Plains, please remember: ‘Tis the season to correctly recycle! My best wishes for a wonderful (and environmentally-friendly) holiday season.
