Commissioner Scarpelli Announces New "Spring Clean-Up" Curbside Pick-Up of Household Yard Waste
Nutley Public Works’ Commissioner Dr. Joseph Scarpelli announced that for the first time the Department of Public Works will be conducting a Spring Clean-up of household yard waste. The pickup is scheduled to begin April 5 and end April 16.
“This is an ongoing effort to increase our recycling efforts and to reduce our garbage disposal costs,” said Scarpelli. “This new program will be very similar to our fall leaf collection. Leaves and other vegetation accumulated during the winter months can be placed in brown biodegradable bags and placed at curbside for pickup.”
Yard waste consists of leaves, pine needles, brush and small branches. Only brown biodegradable bags are to be used, no plastic bags or loose material will be accepted.
In addition to the Spring Clean-up day, the Department of Public Works will conduct its first “Shred-it Day” on April 17, 2010. This event will allow residents to safely destroy sensitive material while also recycling. The event will take place in Municipal Parking Lot 1, off of William Street, between the hours of 10am to 2pm.
Also, On June 5,2010 The Department of Public Works and Public Affairs will host a “Compost Day” aimed at guiding and informing residents on the many benefits associated with composting. Compost bins will be available for purchase at a reduced rate to Nutley residents.
“My goal as Commissioner of the Department of Public Works is to offer new educational programs and additional opportunities which result in increased recycling numbers,” said Dr. Joseph Scarpelli. “Having Spring Clean-up, Shred-It Day and Composting Day are all initiatives and additional services we can offer our residents which directly result in realized cost savings by reducing our solid waste disposal costs.”
Since taking office, Scarpelli expanded the Recycling Program to include all plastics (#1-7) and corrugated cardboard. Among the specific plastic items that can be recycled are: yogurt containers; peanut butter and mayonnaise jars; butter margarine and ice cream tubs; beverage containers and plastic beverage cups; laundry detergent and kitty litter containers. Besides corrugated cardboard other paper products currently recycled, include newspaper, mixed papers, soft cover books, junk mail, magazines, discarded letters and envelopes, and light household cardboard such as cereal and shoe boxes.
Increasing our municipal recycling totals helps the township on both a revenue and expense perspective. On the revenue side, increased recycling correlates to additional money being generated from the sale of the material. As to the expense side, increased recycling equates to a decrease in the amount of solid waste removed and ultimately a reduction in the amount paid to dispose of the material.. One of the simple things residents can do to help off-set the town’s costs and increase revenue is to increase the amount recycled in their households. One of the most effective methods is to put a recycling container next to their garbage so that each time a household item is to be disposed of a decision needs to be made, should it go in the garbage or can it be recycled.
“Increasing our recycling efforts is a win-win for our taxpayers and at the same time responds to the needs of our environment. It is an important piece of the greening of Nutley which everyone can participate in,” concluded Scarpelli.
