Local businesses and recycling

Good day to all! I don't know how many of you attended the Maplewood Green Fair last month but it was great. We could have used more people since there were some pretty amazing businesses and discussions about sustainability, renewable energy, gardening, keeping chickens and other good stuff that the lucky residents of Maplewood Nj get to enjoy. We learned about new ways  that help us ensure future generations will have a good safe standard of living and a safe environment. One thing that was not addressed however was the lack of recycling by local businesses. While we are all doing our part to make Maplewood a green town, the businesses who we purchase from are exempt from a this basic measure. I wonder if anyone knows why this is and what can we do about it. It is not hard to recycle or to refrain from using styrofoam and plastic. There are many products that replace these and really there is no excuse except  not caring. We pay pretty good money to eat in the restaurants and we shop at some cute shops that are not doing anything about this. How hard could it be to get a recycling system in place for all Maplewood businesses? 

I am posting a fascinating story I read about a town in Japan that is "zero waste". I am an avid recycler but they sure have me beat! Enjoy and I hope we can all do our part and take responsibility for this issue. Remember, there is no "away". 

http://www.citylab.com/politics/2015/12/let-this-japanese-town-show-you-how-zero-waste-is-done/419706/

Business are not exempt from N.J. mandatory recycling requirements. 

Municipal recycling coordinators may not know of particular violations or may not enforce the mandates. Some recyclable commodities are not usable in the recycling stream because of contamination by food or other cleaning agents. 

For other commodities, there may not be a market. For example, my cousin owns an auto glass replacement business. A local resident called the municipal town hall (not Maplewood) to complain that the garbage company was putting broken windshields into the garbage truck. The municipal recycling coordinator visited to inquire about this. Bob pointed out that auto glass has safety plastic between two sheets of glass and is not wanted by the glass recycling facilities.

If you notice that particular businesses are not following the requirements of the recycling mandate, you have at least two options: discuss this with the owner. Involve the Mpl/S.O. recycling coordinator in addressing the problem. Every town is required to appoint a recycling coordinator.

F.J.J.,

Certified as Recycling Professional,

Rutgers University, Cook College

I was surprised to read in the most recent issue of the Leaflet that Styrofoam is now recyclable as long as it is clean of food particles.  Most plastic can also be recycled and there are local stores that will take plastic bags that cannot be put out for Monday collection for recycling through their own sources.  

Formerlyjerseyjack said:

Business are not exempt from N.J. mandatory recycling requirements. 

Municipal recycling coordinators may not know of particular violations or may not enforce the mandates. Some recyclable commodities are not usable in the recycling stream because of contamination by food or other cleaning agents. 

For other commodities, there may not be a market. For example, my cousin owns an auto glass replacement business. A local resident called the municipal town hall (not Maplewood) to complain that the garbage company was putting broken windshields into the garbage truck. The municipal recycling coordinator visited to inquire about this. Bob pointed out that auto glass has safety plastic between two sheets of glass and is not wanted by the glass recycling facilities.

If you notice that particular businesses are not following the requirements of the recycling mandate, you have at least two options: discuss this with the owner. Involve the Mpl/S.O. recycling coordinator in addressing the problem. Every town is required to appoint a recycling coordinator.

F.J.J.,

Certified as Recycling Professional,

Rutgers University, Cook College

Does the state set the penalty for businesses failing to recycle? If so, what is it?

Eta: I don't know if any eatery in Maplewood recycles.

I am not up to date on penalties but I will check with A.N.J.A.R and NJDEP and get back on that.

Regarding local eateries, that would be a question for the municipal recycling coordinator. I have seen containers for cardboard in back of several establishments. Beyond cardboard, the most common commodities are glass and plastic. Again, the municipal coordinator would be the person to ask if each eating establishment recycles these. 

City of Summit and S.O. has recycling containers on the sidewalk for collection of glass, plastic, etc. 

Food waste would be the commodity that would do most to reduce the restaurant's garbage bill. That is because it weighs the most and the hauler gets charged by the ton at the landfill or incinerator. The problem is that there is no local mechanism to collect small volumes of food waste. 

In past years, I set up food waste collection at The Manor, Highlawn Pavillion and Bell Labs. I also established collection at seven AT & T locations throughout northern N.J. Many of these are still in operation. Manor and H.P. converted to a pulverizing system to dispose of food waste in the sewage system.

I know that many of the Maplewood businesses do not recycle so good to have all this information to get it started. Thank you! 

I know someone who works at Keller Williams in Maplewood who is trying to setup recycling for their office and other businesses in the village. I think she said that the town doesn't offer recycling for businesses. 

GreenEyedChick said:

I know someone who works at Keller Williams in Maplewood who is trying to setup recycling for their office and other businesses in the village. I think she said that the town doesn't offer recycling for businesses. 

95% of the recyclable material in real estate office is paper. The rest would be drink containers. Both can be dropped off at the recycling center. 

Summit has recycling containers on the street. If Mpl did so, I cant see why the businesses couldn't put their recyclable materials in the containers.