The Town of Kearny is making changes to its recycling program.
Effective immediately, plastic bags that are typically provided by supermarkets and other retail stores may not be disposed of with recycling garbage. No plastic bags will be allowed in the collection of any recycling material. Plastic bags should only be disposed as part of the regular household trash.
Until Dec. 31, 2020, permitted recycling items such as bottles and plastics may be placed curbside in clear/transparent plastic bags or in recycling receptacles. Beginning Jan. 1, 2021, permitted recycling items will only be collected if placed in recycling receptacles.
Changes in the recycling market and stricter waste disposal guidelines have necessitated the implementation of these requirements. Because plastic bags jam equipment at recycling facilities, recyclers are refusing loads “contaminated” plastic bags.
In addition, the inclusion of plastic bags and other non-recyclable items in recycling waste results in the assessment of “contamination fees” against the Town of Kearny, which may be higher than the actual cost of disposing the recyclables. In some instances, recycling loads are being fully rejected and end up having to be dumped as regular waste at a higher cost, thereby undermining the purpose of the recycling program.
The cooperation of all Kearny residents is sought not only to avoid higher costs, but to have a cleaner community and to help save the environment. Please separate recycling material and place it in a receptacle with a tight-fitting lid to keep dry and from blowing away in windy conditions.
Please use a can no larger than 40 gallons and that does not weigh more than 50 pounds and without plastic bags.
Permitted bottles and cans (commingled) consist of glass bottles and jars, aluminum cans, tin cans, plastic jars and bottles, jugs, etc. Please keep these items dry, as wet material is harder to recycle and may also result in a contamination fee charged against the town or the rejection of a particular load.
Mixed paper consists of newspaper, magazines, junk mail, cardboard boxes, etc.
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Kevin A. Canessa Jr. is the editor of and broadcaster at The Observer, an organization he has served since 2006. He is responsible for the editorial content of the newspaper and website, the production of the e-Newspaper, writing several stories per week (including the weekly editorial), conducting live broadcasts on social media channels such as YouTube, Facebook, and X, including a weekly recap of the news — and much more behind the scenes. Between 2006 and 2008, he introduced the newspaper to its first-ever blog — which included podcasts, audio and video. Originally from Jersey City, Kevin lived in Kearny until 2004, lived in Port St. Lucie. Florida, for four years until February 2016 and in March of that year, he moved back to Kearny to return to The Observer full time. Click Here to send Kevin an email.