Brick, NJ – As the costs to dispose of non-compactable waste at the Ocean County Landfill increases, Mayor Stephen C. Acropolis and Township officials are investigating ways to save taxpayer dollars through alternate drop-off locations.

“Every year, the price to use the County landfill goes up.  Yet, we keep going there because that is what we have always done,” said Mayor Acropolis.  “We cannot afford to keep doing what we have been doing.  Not when we can be saving taxpayers dollars.”

Mayor Acropolis estimates that based on last year’s tonnage numbers, the Township could realize savings upwards of $200,000 a year by utilizing private recycling yards to dispose of collected non-compactable waste.  Non-compactable waste includes items such as concrete, metal, building materials, furniture and various bulk items.  The Township collects non-compactable waste at the Ridge Road Recycling Center.

In 2000, the Township dumped 4,482 tons of non-compactable material at the County landfill at $63.32 a ton.  Those numbers jumped to 10,614 tons at $101.14 a ton in 2007.  That equates to an increase of nearly $800,000 in the amount of money the Township spent in 2007 compared to 2000.

“We are confident that we can lower how much we pay per ton by using an alternate vendor or recycling yard,” said Mayor Acropolis. 

“This is a continuation of our ongoing efforts to think outside the box and change the way government does business in Brick Township,” added Mayor Acropolis.

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