FOR RELEASE: Wednesday, October 5, 2005

CONTACT: Loretta O'Donnell or Ralph Shrom (609) 265-5028

BURLCO RECYCLING LOWERS COST 64 CENTS PER HOUSEHOLD
Study Shows 2005 Cost Down While More Residents Served

A new report on Burlington County’s recycling program presented to the Freeholders Wednesday showed that the program costs about 64 cents less per household than the last study in 2002 in spite of increases in the number of households and facilities served, fuel and insurance costs.
The study, by DeFeo Associates of Warren, reported that the Occupational Training Center (OTC) of Burlington County is now collecting recyclables from nearly 160,000 households, 22,552 more than 2002 due to a population increase and the addition of service to multifamily complexes.
A State report earlier this year showed that Burlington County is recycling about 44 percent of municipal solid waste, higher than any other county in New Jersey, and more than 10 percent higher than the statewide rate of 33.5 percent.
Freeholder William S. Haines Jr. who oversees the Department of Resource Conservation, said, “Burlington County’s Recycling Program is the most cost effective in the state, and we continue to work to increase recycling at multi-family complexes, schools and businesses.

PRESS RELEASE, BURLCO RECYCLING COST DOWN, ADD ONE
10-5-05

The OTC also collects recyclables at non-residential facilities which means that the actual per unit cost is even lower than the 2005 projected $1.87 net cost per household per month. The net cost per in 2002 was $2.51 household per month and in 2004 it decreased to $2.00.
The report states that the County Recycling Program is showing a reduction in cost while programs in other counties are increasing in cost. “The most remarkable aspect of this program remains the downward trend in cost at a time when there are numerous external forces pushing the overall cost of programs higher.”
The report concluded that Burlington County taxpayers are receiving an “extraordinary high level of service” at a price below the cost of similar programs.
Haines noted that the County goes beyond traditional recycling of cans, bottles and paper to special programs for items such computers, fax machines, cell phones and sneakers. “The increasingly higher prices of fuel are an added incentive to recycle. The energy savings from using recycled materials versus new resources, for example, resulted in the saving of 86 trillion BTUs – the equivalent of 700 million gallons of gasoline – statewide in 2003,” he said.
Due to increased demand for raw materials, revenue from the sale of recyclables is projected to be $1.9 million greater this year than 2002 which helps to offset the cost of the program.
The OTC currently employs 76 workers, of whom 53, or 70 percent, have some form of disability to provide these individuals with gainful employment.