Recycling Effort Gets 'Nifty' Reception in Trenton

Wyckoff's efforts to encourage recycling has more than a few admirers in the state Legislature.

The General Assembly unanimously passed a resolution Monday in support of the township's "Nifty Fifty" program, which encourages residents to do their part to help increase Wyckoff's residential recycling rate from 2009's 29 percent to 50 percent.

"It's very exciting for me," said Committeeman Brian Scanlan, who's largely led the charge to promote the Nifty Fifty goal throughout the township.

One of the resolution's primary sponsors, Assemblywoman Connie Wagner, D-38, said "it's a great thing the community is doing.

"Wyckoff is walking the walk," said Wagner, whose resolution also was introduced by Assemblyman Scott Rumana, R-40, and co-sponsored by Assemblyman Jack Connors, D-7.

The resolution, which received a 80-0 roll call vote, states that "it is in the best interest of the state and in the public interest to support the objectives of the Wyckoff Township 'Nifty Fifty' recycling goal and to encourage and increase recycling compliance statewide.

"This House additionally supports the goals of the 'Nifty Fifty' initiative, by the Township of Wyckoff, and further urges municipalities and counties to support and promote increased local recycling efforts, like those undertaken by Wyckoff, including public awareness and educational programs about the importance of recycling," the resolution states.

While recycling waste certainly isn't a novel concept, "some communities embrace it and make it easier for people," Wagner said. "You've got to start locally."

Recycling is supported and mandated within municipalities throughout the state, although the resolution notes that New Jersey has never reached its own 50 percent solid waste recycling goal. Clearly, ordinances may not be enough to get everyone to "reduce, reuse and recycle." But Wagner said the fix is simple enough: "education, education, education."

Wyckoff's Nifty Fifty campaign aims to inform the community of the various ways they can recycle. Of course, the township collects household recycling curbside, including paper, plastics, cans, bottles and the like. Larger items, such as TVs and computers, as well as branches and scrap metal, can be brought to the Recycling Center on West Main Street, and residents can arrange for Wednesday pickup of larger appliances, such as stoves and refrigerators, by calling 201-891-7000, etc. 101.

Over the last few months, township officials have promoted the Nifty Fifty goal with announcements in the schools, via the municipal calendar and through the annual Team up To Tidy Up day, among other measures.

"We're all really contributing to making it possible for people to recycle more," Scanlan said.

"Wyckoff is raising the bar," Wagner said. "I'm hoping it will encourage other communities to come on board."

Scanlan was pleased by the recognition in the Assembly, as with the state's support, "This may prove to be a program that other towns can implement."

While recycling has its own environmental merits, improving our ecology is only one of the goals of the Nifty Fifty program. Raising Wyckoff's recycling rate would mean great savings for the township, and by extension, taxpayers.

Scanlan estimates that a 50 percent recycling rate could save Wyckoff approximately $100,000 by simply reducing the amount of garbage that needs to be hauled away.

In 2009, township homes and businesses generated 2,728 tons of recyclables, with 6,643 tons of trash trucked to a landfill in Pennsylvania. If Wyckoff succeeds in recycling 1,958 more tons of trash this year, it will have achieved the Nifty Fifty.

Education efforts are paying off thus far, as Scanlan has projected 2010's recycling rate to inch up into the 32 to 33 percent range.

Wagner hopes to join Rumana in congratulating the Township Committee on the Nifty Fifty program in person. She said Wyckoff's efforts are worth the kudos.

"It's great its happening," she said. "We have to do things differently... (to promote recycling) everybody can make a difference."