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Mayor Kelly Pushes For Stronger Recycling Efforts
By Catherine Snipe
Now into his second week, Mayor Daniel Kelly has an issue he's pushing: recycling.
The newly appointed mayor announced at this week's township council meeting that Brick can do more recycling. He hopes to better educate the township and its citizens on how to best do it this year. Kelly is hoping the township can decrease the amount of garbage its residents throw out and increase the amount of recyclables separated curbside.
It could reap financial rewards, too. The county has a system that reimburses Brick for the value of the recycled material, township administrator Scott Pezzares said.
Councilman Dan Toth asked if the township could investigate special bins residents could use to better separate their recyclables at home. Each container has a bin labeled for recyclables such as newsprint, aluminum and plastic. Toth said this system would not only be easier for residents, but is better than having the small trash bins residents use. Those containers easily topple over and blow around during windy days, he said.
Council President Stephen Acropolis said the township garbage trucks are equipped with a camera inside to see what is getting thrown in.
"All you see is black plastic bags," he said. Clear bags would better spell out if a bag is full of recyclables or not.
One time, a giant thud in the truck signaled an entire engine bloc left curbside made it into the garbage, Acropolis said.
Members said educating the public would not only help what should and should not be thrown out, but will help reduce the amount of garbage collected. And that means the township will save money, Kelly said. It costs money to haul the garbage away, and the township gets money for its recyclables.
When residents throw away what they should leave for recycling, "the township is hit twice," Kelly said. "We're throwing away money."
The mayor said any money netted could be used to fuel projects the township is interested in.
This is among the first initiatives for Kelly, who is serving an appointed term that ends in November. As an unexpected newcomer - and one who may not even be running in November - the mayor and the council members have both said this may be a very trying year for the township, after facing a scandal with the previous mayor.
"It will be an uncomfortable time for a lot of us, I know," Acropolis said.
Kelly offered thanks to the administration and elected officials and the "family of Brick Township."
Kelly, who previously was chairman of the planning board, is alongside a council whose members have served several years and have been pushing through projects begun over those years.
Kelly, though, said he recognizes all the work the council has and is pouring into projects that started last year, and that he is on board for those initiatives.
"I'm picking up on the previous work and am going to do everything to push these projects forward," Kelly said.
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