PRESS RELEASE

Press Release
Contact: Frank Bradley
Phone: 908-851-8500
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
1:00P.M.. EDT, October 28, 2009

TOWNSHIP OF UNION’S RECYCLING HITS RECORD HIGH

TOWNSHIP OF UNION, UNION COUNTY, N.J. Mayor Anthony Terrezza and Commissioner of Public Works Brenda Restivo announce that today the Township of Union Public Works Department’s recycling program shows that is working. A recently released state recycling tonnage report, addressed today at the Union County’s recycling coordinators meeting, held today in Scotch Plains, the Township of Union received the highest tonnage within the county and the largest grant award.

“We were not expecting the same numbers…. a little higher maybe…. because we have really stepped up the enforcement,” said Mayor Terrezza. An impressive total of 68,110.30 tons of materials were removed from going to a landfill translating into a $ 99, 649.49 in grant funding. “That’s more than double the $ 45,000 we had received at our last higher report”. Commissioner of Public Works Brenda Restivo added “All of our programs from our participation in Sustainable Jersey, talking to industrial generators on route 22 corridor to our Public Works speaker’s bureau going to neighbors association to neighbor associations helped in this”.

Additionally, Business administrator Frank Bradley stated that the money that the township will receive is only a portion of the savings. “This means that we went to the landfill or incinerator with fewer Tons (materials) and with a $ 105.00 per ton fee to dispose the waste, an additional cost was not passed on to the taxpayer”. “The Township of Union should be proud of this achievement, kudos to the Public Works Department and their program…we beat much larger town such as Elizabeth, just their larger area and population (as compared to Union) should have won...” – he ended.

The Public Works department stated, “Our next challenge will be residential compliance.”- said Public Works Superintendent Sergio Panunzio, “We want to be corrective and not punitive in educating our residents”.

He attributed the success of this program to Mayor Terrezza and Commissioner Restivo who have launched the “2009 Green Initiative” back in January 2009. “The support of everyone with this program has been sensational… from department heads supporting us with data to our administrator… you know ….it’s not popular for elected officials to support a program that may impose fines …but as they always said…it’s the right thing to do… and today their support as paid off” he ended.

The Department of Public Works is planning for even more enforcement and educational events this spring.

The money is distributed by the New Jersey State Department of Environmental Protection based on tonnage and a formula, which calculates the removal of material from the Municipal Waste Stream. The money was released yesterday by the DEP in Trenton and should be received by the Township as early as next week. Grant expenditures can only be applied to recycling purchases by the township or enhancing an existing recycling program
-End-

Sustainable Jersey Notice:

47 New Jersey Towns Submit for Sustainable Jersey™ Certification
Awards Presentation on November 17 at NJ League of Municipalities Conference
Trenton, NJ (October 1, 2009) - Representatives of Sustainable Jersey today released the list of thefirst 47 New Jersey municipalities that have submitted for Sustainable Jersey certification. Out of the 231municipalities that have registered to start the process, 47 towns across 15 counties submitted complete
applications with documentation to show they meet the rigorous submission standards. The submissions are being reviewed now and the final list of certified communities will be announced later in the month. All 47 towns will be recognized as pioneers at an awards luncheon on Tuesday, November 17.

These towns will be recognized at the first annual Sustainable Jersey awards luncheon on Tuesday,November 17 at the New Jersey League of Municipalities conference. Admission is open to the public,
but the $35 tickets are going fast. In addition to special keynote speakers, the top achieving municipalities that have made outstanding accomplishments will be recognized. Awards will be presented to municipalities in the following categories: sustainability champions, leadership, innovation,and collaboration.

# 47 from Union County- Township of Union-

Sustainable Jersey

A meeting will be held in Town Hall's Bonnell Room
On WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 14 2009 at 7:30 P.M.
to discuss the Township of Union's Sustainable Jersey
Application.

The public is invited

Green Team Meeting

A meeting will be held in Town Hall's Bonnell Room on
WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 14Th at 7:30 P.M.
To discuss The Sustainable Jersey Initiative.

The public is invited