| DEP HIGHLIGHTS CUMBERLAND
FARMS RECYCLING EFFORTS
(04/135) ATLANTIC CITY - Standing
outside a Cumberland Farms store with newly installed recycling
containers, Department of Environmental Protection (DEP)
Commissioner Bradley M. Campbell today joined with state
and county recycling representatives to recognize the company's
efforts to increase bottle and can collection at its stores
across New Jersey.
"Cumberland Farms is setting an example by making
it convenient to recycle at its stores," said Commissioner
Campbell. "As people consume more beverages outside
the home, we need to provide an opportunity to recycle at
these locations."
Cumberland Farms responded in July to a DEP request asking
that convenience stores evaluate their compliance with the
state's Recycling Act. The company in turn ordered collection
containers for its stores and contracted for the collection
of recyclables. The company also is looking to begin similar
programs in other states.
DEP's effort to prompt convenience stores to addresses
collection of single-serve beverage containers focuses on
recycling more glass, plastic and aluminum from patrons.
Collection bins placed near existing garbage cans will increase
the opportunity for residents to recycle at these retail
stores.
"Cumberland Farms is honored to be recognized for
our recycling efforts in New Jersey," said John Babbitts,
regional general manager for the company. "The new
bins are an added convenience and service to our customers
already inclined to recycle. But beyond that, those who'd
never considered the consequences of tossing a soda bottle
into the trash now think twice, and make the smart choice
to recycle."
Cumberland Farms operates 45 outlets in New Jersey that
include retail stores and gas stations with ice cream and
grocery distribution operations.
The Atlantic County Utilities Authority recently implemented
an "All Plastic Bottles" campaign to achieve a
higher recycling rate for plastics. DEP presented the authority
its annual county recycling program award in October. This
year, residential recycling is up 1.2 percent and commercial
recycling is up 9.8 percent in Atlantic County.
In each of the past two years, DEP provided more than $3
million in grants to help municipal and county recycling
programs recover more materials for reuse. The new funding
is one step in New Jersey's efforts to increase recycling
rates.
DEP also revived the Clean Communities anti-litter program
that provided $9.8 million in grants to towns and counties
this year. Clean communities funds can be used to purchase
or rent equipment and receptacles, as well as to provide
trash bags, gloves and other protective clothing to encourage
towns and volunteers to clean up and recycle solid waste
in their localities.
In 2002, New Jersey generated 19.3 million tons of solid
waste and recycled 10.3 million tons, or 53 percent of the
total amount. This amount includes not only glass, cans,
plastic and newspapers from municipal waste, but also scrap
iron, concrete, wood and other items from commercial waste.
The remaining 9 million tons of solid waste generated but
not recycled in 2002 was disposed of in the following manner:
1.5 million tons, or 8 percent, incinerated in state; 3.8
million, or 20 percent, landfilled in New Jersey; and, 3.7
million, or 19 percent, landfilled out of state.
New Jersey's recycling industry employs more than 27,000
people in New Jersey with total receipts valued at $5.9
billion annually.
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