Deadline Nearing to File Recycling Tonnage Reports

Businesses, institutions and commercial establishments have until March 1

In accordance with New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection Recycling Regulation NJAC 7:26A-10.3, businesses are responsible for the separation and proper disposal of mandatory recyclable materials, such as newspapers, magazines, chipboard, glass and aluminum containers, corrugated cardboard, steel and tin cans, plastic bottles, mixed paper, motor oil, batteries, fluorescent light bulbs, tires, electronic and yard waste.

The deadline for businesses, institutions and commercial establishments to file recycling tonnage reports for the Jan. 1, 2017 through Dec. 31, 2017 time period is by March 1, 2018. Reports can be submitted to local municipal recycling coordinators or through the Somerset County Solid Waste Management Office.

If submitting through SWM, businesses can complete the tonnage report and return it via U.S. mail to the Somerset County Solid Waste Management Office, 20 Grove St., Somerville, NJ 08876; fax it to 908-707-1749; email it to Melissa Harvey at harvey@co.somerset.nj.us after scanning the document; complete and electronically submit the report by going to www.co.somerset.nj.us/recycle and clicking on the 2017 Recycling Tonnage Report link at the bottom of the page; or by going to http://bit.ly/17TonReport .

Tonnage reports submitted through SWM will be given to municipalities for inclusion in their annual recycling report to the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection.

While most businesses and institutions in Somerset County are now conducting ongoing recycling programs as required by law, a large amount of this activity is still not being adequately reported. Since all recycling activities in a municipality must be reported to the NJDEP on an annual basis, the underreporting of recycling activities has a negative impact on the municipality in which your establishment is located. If recycling conducted by your business or institution is not reported, it is as if it didn’t take place.

Organizations that are just starting to set up a recycling system should contact their solid waste hauler for recycling information and cost estimates and their municipal recycling coordinator for recommendations on setting up a system. Organizations also should establish policies and educate their employees about recycling.

Somerset County businesses wishing to use county recycling services, can contact the Somerset County Recycling Center at 732-469-3363 or recycling@co.somerset.nj.us for details about the program and its cost.

The NJDEP requires that the Somerset County Department of Health conduct inspections at local businesses and institutions to verify compliance with mandatory recycling rules. Inspections are made throughout the year.

For more information about the recycling tonnage reporting requirement or about where to file a report, contact Tony McCracken at mccrackt@co.somerset.nj.us or 908-231-7021.

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