The Recycling Plan Element sets forth the goals and policies for Mountain Lakes to fulfill its social and statutory responsibilities to minimize solid waste and to maximize the reuse of reusable and renewable resources. This element also has the purpose of coordinating Borough polices in this regard with those of the County and State.
By the early 1980's, it became clear that there was a crisis in New Jersey concerning the disposal of solid waste. The crisis resulted from contradictory trends of an ever increasing amount of solid waste and an ever decreasing amount of available and suitable places to dispose of it. In response, the legislature enacted the State Recycling Act (P.L. 1981,c.278) in 1981 to promote recycling in the state. In 1987, the initially voluntary provisions of the plan were strengthened by the passage of the Statewide Mandatory Source Separation and Recycling Act requiring all municipalities to pass ordinances mandating separation of garbage for recycling. There are four primary purposes to the state legislation and plan.
Well before these state initiatives, Mountain Lakes was in the forefront of recycling efforts because many residents recognized the benefits from recycling reusable materials long before it was made mandatory. In the 1970's, Borough groups initiated recycling programs. In 1981, the Borough Council removed leaves from the waste stream by developing behind the Department of Public Works Depot a local composting facility which produces compost widely used by residents and professional landscapers. As recycling efforts produced increasing results in the 1980's, the Borough established a permanent recycling materials collection facility along side the composting facility with separate dumpsters for various recyclable materials. The Borough's efforts were also spurred on by the closing of the Morris County landfill. These factors enabled the Borough to comply with the State recycling mandates of 1987. In 1993, a Solid Waste Coordinator was hired and in 1994 residential collection of recyclable materials was begun. The dedicated position has since been eliminated and these functions are performed by the Borough Manager.
Education has also been an important part of the Borough's recycling efforts, primarily through various newsletters and "The Borough Guide". In addition, the Mountain Lakes elementary school curriculum now includes recycling education and the Borough Clean Communities Program has made presentations about the need and importance of a commitment to recycling.
The Mountain Lakes recycling program should have three primary objectives.
Mountain Lakes is committed to the implementation of an effective municipal solid waste management program which emphasizes source separation and recycling. This is consistent with the County and State plans but it is also consistent with long established Borough policy. Accordingly, the Borough adopted the Solid Waste Recycling Ordinance (Ord. # 9-85) which has been revised on several occasions to comply with County requirements.
Residential recycling is accomplished by back door pick-up once each week by a private contractor hired by the Borough Solid Waste Utility. Homeowners may also bring recyclable materials to the recycling center located at the Borough Public Works Depot on Pocono Road. Additionally, twice each year, the Borough sponsors "trash days" at the Public Works Depot to help residents dispose of bulky trash items like appliances, furniture, carpeting and construction debris. All materials collected are sorted, with uncontaminated wood, metal and freon captured for recycling.
Yard waste (except grass clippings) is brought to the Depot for composting or chipping. Composted and chipped materials are then recycled into mulch for the Borough landscape. Residents leave their grass clippings on their lawns or have them disposed of at a NJDEP approved composting site at their own expense. Twice each year (spring and fall), the Borough Public Works collects branches left at curb-side and Christmas trees are collected after the holiday season.
The Mountain Lakes residential recycling program and related administrative support are part of the Borough's Solid Waste Utility, established by Ordinance # 13-92 on 12/4/92. The Utility bills residents and then pays the costs of collecting, disposing, operating and administering the recycling program. In addition to yard waste, the following materials are recycled at the Borough Depot and are collected at residents' "back door".
Commercial establishments are also required to recycle the materials listed above. Each business, however, is responsible for establishing its own recycling program for the collection, transportation and marketing of designated recyclable materials. Private contractors may handle the recyclables or the business may bring them to the Borough Depot. Documentation of tonnage of material recycled must be submitted in accordance with the Recycling Ordinance. Mountain Lakes schools and municipal properties are part of the Solid Waste Utility contract with a private hauler and have their source-separated recyclables collected weekly.
The following are the major proposals relating to the future of recycling in Mountain Lakes.
Mountain Lakes can be proud of the results of its long term efforts to establish an effective recycling program in the Borough. Its success is based upon the commitment of all involved in the program. The maintenance of that commitment over the long term should be an important objective.
The Municipal Land Use Law requires standards and requirements as part of site plan and subdivision review that will promote recycling of designated materials. In particular, section C.40 55D-38b(9) requires recycling facilities be included in large developments. The Borough Land Use Ordinances should be amended in this regard to be consistent with the State Recycling Act and Mountain Lakes Recycling Ordinance.
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