Trash Is Cash For Glen Ridge: Local Boyscout Troop Takes The Charge

April 19, 2013 - PRLog -- Glen Ridge recycling has experienced a significant decline during the past 2 years, resulting in less town income from recycling and more cost to the town for garbage removal.  Our local Boy Scout Troop 55 wants to help residents to reverse that trend.

Over the next month, Boy Scouts will appear at your door to ask your help in participating in the town's mandatory recycling program which raises money for Glen Ridge, as well as have you do your part for the environment.    

Did you know that 70 percent of household refuge is now eligible for recycling? Councilperson Elizabeth Baker, one of 8 members of the town’s Environmental Advisory Board, states the 2 main issues plainly: “An estimated one-third of residents don't recycle” and secondly, “Many residents are not aware of that over two-thirds of their present trash can be recycled.”

The program is simple and is called “Single Stream Recycling”.  This means paper, plastic, glass, cardboard, and metal can be placed in the same bin for weekly pick up.

The issue came to light after reading about the drop off in recycling in the local paper.  Linda and Victor Gates, parents of Boy Scout Evan Gates, have been recycling for years.  Upon reading, Linda was surprised by the precipitous drop in revenue from recycling and the increase in cost for garbage pickup.  “Glen Ridge has so few streams of revenue” explained Linda.  “Recycling is not only good for the environment, but for Glen Ridge coffers, as well.”

Troop 55 will kick off the recycle campaign by having a presence at Eco Fair during the Spring Arts Festival this May. The Troop will have a table set up at the Eco Fair, to provide recycling information. They will also do a demonstration showing how much of a bag of garbage should be recycled and how much is left for actual garbage.

Then, over the next couple of months, Boy Scouts of Troop 55 will go door to door to make residents aware of money that can be going to support our community while being environmental friendly. The goal is simple: Recycling up, Trash down.  Really, does it get any simpler than this?