Recycling Revenues Make Their Way Back to Lacey

By Colleen Platt

Lacey Township is slated to get $12,673 in recycling revenues from the Ocean County Board of Chosen Freeholders in the coming weeks, according to a prepared statement.

"Municipalities will be getting checks from us shortly for their ongoing recycling efforts under the county's Recycling Revenue Sharing Program," Freeholder James F. Lacey, who serves as liaison to the county recycling program, said in the statement. "As we work at keeping government cost effective and efficient, this is one program that has a positive impact on all of our towns."

The amount distributed is for recycling collection during the first half of 2013.

"Last year, Ocean County returned almost $1 million to its municipalities in recycling revenue sharing," Lacey said. "Our towns recycled just over 77,000 tons of material last year."

"This revenue sharing program has given us the ability to turn trash into treasure," said Freeholder Director John P. Kelly. "The recycling program, under the leadership of Jim Lacey, has been profitable economically and environmentally."

Since 1995, the county has distributed $14 million to the municipalities that participate in the county's recycling program through its Recycling Revenue Sharing Program.

The amount returned to the towns is based on the amount of recyclables collected and brought to the county and the price per commodity in the current market.

Lacey noted that the price of commodities for the first half of this year dropped significantly due to China's slow down on the amount of plastic it was buying.

"This put additional volumes in United States' markets, which drives the cost down," Lacey said.

However, he said demand for items like milk bottles are at an all time high commanding a price of $136 a ton.

Lacey added that while materials like aluminum continue to have a high demand there has been a drop in the average price.

The payout for the period of January to June 30, 2013 was $6.47 a ton.

"The amount we return to our towns is based on the amount recycled and what the market has to offer," Lacey said.

Lacey noted that one of the biggest benefits of recycling is towns reduce the amount paid to have the material sent to the landfill.

"For instance, by recycling 37,000 tons of material during the first half of 2013, towns saved a combined $2.6 million by avoiding the tipping fee at the landfill," Lacey said.

Lacey said towns can use the money as needed although many invest it back into the recycling program.