Working Together to Recycle in Summit

Recycling in Summit has been successful in saving the City (and taxpayers) money that would otherwise be spent to haul and dispose of trash. Curbside pickup and the recycling options at our popular and well-used Transfer Station have led to tons of recyclable material being kept out of the waste stream. The City's Division of Public Works, headed by Paul Cascais, within the Department of Community Services, headed by Beth Kinney, continues to make recycling a priority for both cost and environmental reasons.

Working with the City departments is the Recycling Advisory Committee (RAC), a volunteer committee appointed by Common Council to assist the City in identifying and implementing programs to increase recycling in Summit. Chaired by Summit resident Marjorie Fox, the RAC has been instrumental in advancing and communicating recycling efforts on a number of fronts. For example, in the last 14 months, the RAC has:

• Started a in the Summit High School cafeteria with grant funding from the Summit Area Public Foundation. SAPF has granted a second year of funding, which will allow the program to be expanded to the middle school.
• Prepared informative flyers, in cooperation with the Summit Environmental Commission, on recycling in Summit, recycling for businesses in Summit, and a resource guide on how to recycle items not recyclable at curbside.
• Purchased 5 paper recycling bins for use by downtown visitors using New Jersey Clean Community grant funding from Summit Downtown Inc. (SDI). Up to four more bins will be purchased this year depending on SDI funding.
• Purchased 2 multi-compartment bins for the DeForest Avenue lots using Clean Communities grant funding. Two more bins will be purchased shortly.
• Purchased additional recycling bins for installation at City fields and parks, using field user fees.
• Held a paper shredding event at City Hall.
• Contacted religious institutions to inform them about the free 6 month (renewable) recycling pass available to all Summit businesses and institutions to allow them to use the Transfer Station for recycling free of charge.
• Attended a meeting of Summit senior citizens sponsored by the Department of Community Programs to explain the curbside recycling program and answer questions.
• Held informational tables at the Summit Free Market and other community events.
• Explored and researched ways to recycle additional items including carpets and food waste.
• Recognized innovative and consistent Summit recyclers including the Hat Tavern and . Stahl-Del Duca Florist and SDI will be the next two recyclers to receive recognition.

Working collaboratively, City officials, RAC members and other volunteers, businesses, civic organizations, and residents have successfully produced sustainable environmental benefits and cost savings for the community as a whole. Kudos to all...keep it up.

By Beth Lovejoy, on behalf of the Summit Environmental Commission