THE SPOTLIGHT IS ON:

THE TOWNSHIP OF OCEAN’S NEW RECYCLING CENTER

The construction of the Township of Ocean Recycling Center is expected to be completed by early spring, thanks in part to a grant from the Recycling Enhancement Act’s Municipal Recycling Service Improvement Grant. 

Entrance off Sunset Avenue  

     View of collection areas from parking lot

         The new configuration increases separation between traffic from municipal operations and citizen traffic generated at the current recycling center.  While planned landscape work will further improve the aesthetics of the overall complex, the new facility will also help the Township manage the storage of materials awaiting transportation to processing facilities.

         One major change is that residents and businesses will be able to place all pourable plastics, glass, tin aluminum cans, cardboard/newspaper/magazines/junk mail and shredded paper into one compactor container for transportation and processing resulting in a monetary savings in hauling costs.   Recycling collections have always been driven by economics.  By implementing a single-stream recycling approach the Township can offset the diminishing markets for those materials.  For years the Township has received revenues from separating the recyclables but as the markets diminish it’s become too costly and isn’t worth the separation for the revenue the Township receives out of it. 

         Scrap metal and electronics will continue to be separated and placed in individual containers.  By streamlining the facility and making it more user friendly the Township also expects to find a reduction in landfill fees paid for garbage disposal and save much needed landfill space.

         The facility is expected to accept recyclable materials from the Borough of Interlaken, Borough of Deal, Borough of Allenhurst and the Village of Loch Arbour in a shared services agreement with the Township of Ocean.   Currently, details of the shared services agreement are being worked out.    Personnel will staff the facility on weekends and weekdays to assist visitors in depositing materials where required.