T.F. recycling procedures may change

T.F. recycling procedures may change
DPW head asks for $900K in capital investments
BY KENNY WALTER Staff Writer

TINTON FALLS — The borough may consolidate the recycling collection because of a lack of manpower in the public works department.

Public Works Director John Bucciero gave a presentation at the Oct. 20 Borough Council meeting, urging the Borough Council to adopt a single-stream policy for recycling pickup.

"I am proposing tonight that the borough start with single-stream recycling," he said. "What I mean by that is currently we pick up recycling in the large blue containers.

"They consist of metal cans, aluminum cans, glass bottles and plastic bottles," he added. "What I am proposing is that all recycling, your newspaper, mixed off ice-type paper and cardboard all go in the same container."

According to Bucciero, the single streaming would offset a lack of manpower currently hampering the department.

"This will save us on manpower," he said. "Currently we are very short on manpower due to attrition."

In a memo to the council Bucciero said he expects the borough to save between $7,000 and $27,600 from vehicle savings and between $1,500 and $7,500 on waste savings as a result of the new program.

He also said he expects a reduction in worker injuries under the single-stream program.

Bucciero said that there is work that should be done within the department that is being neglected because of the shortage of manpower.

"We are using temporary laborers," he said. "There are a lot of responsibilities that we are supposed to do that we are neglecting because of the shortage of manpower.

According to Bucciero, recycling collection now requires a driver and two other workers.

"This will allow us to use the people that are on the trucks now to do those responsibilities," he added. "Once we do go to single stream, I anticipate we can perform all the other duties with the current staff now."

Bucciero said that in addition to the savings on manpower, the new method of recycling would result in a decrease in garbage collected in the borough.

"I think it will prove better for the borough all around," he said. "Statistics have shown that the towns that have gone to single stream have increased their recycling and decreased their tonnage as far as trash goes.

"I guess the biggest reason for that is that it makes it much easier for the residents to recycle," he said.

One of the issues discussed at the meeting was that with single-stream residents may have too much recycling for their container to hold.

Bucciero said that residents could get a second container, just as they can for garbage.

All council members seemed to think the plan is worth moving forward.

"It sounds like a fabulous plan," Councilman Andrew Mayer said. "I think we are going to have increased participation in our recycling program because it's going to make it easier for the folks to recycle."

"Mr. Bucciero put together a good report on this, made a lot of common-sense points that I think our public needs to see to understand what single-stream is." Councilman Gary Baldwin said.

Mayer also noted that the plan is a way to save on manpower.

The mayor and council agreed that it would be a good idea to start a campaign to educate residents on what single-stream recycling is.

"We would do an educational campaign too," Mayor Michael Skudera said. "Get it out in the newsletter. That's the main thing we are trying to accomplish, to increase recycling and reduce cost."

"We should probably put this out on the website," Mayer added.

Bucciero also told the council that the department needs a capital investment of more than $900,000 over the next two years.

He said the funding would allow replacement of equipment such as a 17-yearold four-wheel drive vehicle that has been in use for more than 100,000 miles. Bucciero said the vehicle needs major repairs. He also said the current robotic camera system was purchased in 1996 and is "worn out."

Among his suggestions was that the borough invest $924,408 for a list of improvements including: two new refuse collection trucks at $225,000 each; a four-wheel drive truck at $20,000-$29,000; about 1,100 trash containers; an asphalt hot box at $27,000; an asphalt planer at $20,000; and a robotic camera for sanitary and storm sewers at a cost of $50,000.

Bucciero said the funding has nothing to do with the single-stream recycling proposal.

"The capital is not really involved with the single stream," he said. "We need those same vehicles regardless of whether we do single-stream or not."

Bucciero also said the department is looking into sharing some services with other towns.

"We were entertaining the idea if there was another town that wanted to go in with us on both the camera and the planer," Bucciero said.

Skudera said there has been interest from other towns in sharing the cost of some of the equipment.

"I've talked to a couple of other towns that wanted to go in on this and it is possible," he added. "All these things are nice but we are not going to use them every single day."

Bucciero also said the department is looking into purchasing a hybrid truck, and Mayer said that could have the added benefit of being eligible for grant funds..

"I think it is good that you are looking at a hybrid," Mayer said. "There is a greenhouse gas reduction program that might have grant money available to purchase things like hybrid vehicles. Maybe there's a way to put some grant money into this."

Bucciero said that if the council were to approve the capital investments, it would need to do so soon.

"If we want to move forward with the capital improvement program, it would probably need to be at the next meeting," he said. "You're going to have an ordinance and it wouldn't be able to carry over into the next year."

Borough Clerk Karen Mount-Taylor confirmed last week that a bond ordinance for the full amount requested is expected to be on the agenda for the next meeting (Nov. 3) for introduction.

Council President Duane Morrill said that the investments are needed.

"These are things we absolutely need, so I want to take a look at the best way of getting them," he said.

Contact Kenny Walter at

kwalter@gmnews.com.