Brick, NJ – Earlier this year, Brick Township implemented a new policy regarding collection of bulk items that has succeeded in reducing the tonnage collected through the first three quarters of 2009 and has saved taxpayers hundreds of thousands of dollars.  The Township expects total savings to be $574,265 for the entire year.

Brick Township stopped curbside collection of construction materials and stopped accepting those materials at the Ridge Road Collection Facility on February 1, 2009.  The policy was implemented to rein in the increasing costs associated with tipping fees for bulk materials.  Those costs rose from $283,810 in 2000 to $1,073,499 in 2007.

“The increase in tipping fees was astounding.  The easy thing to do would have been to keep taking from the taxpayers to pay the increases.  That was unacceptable to me,” said Mayor Stephen Acropolis.  “We looked at the problem and came up with a solution and the results speak for themselves.”

Through the first three quarters of 2009, the Township collected 5,205 tons of bulk materials.  The Township collected 7,445 tons through the first three quarters of 2008.  This is a reduction of 2,240 tons – or 30% from last year.

The Township also sought alternative locations to bring bulk materials with lower tipping fees.  These efforts resulted in a reduction in tipping fees from a high of $104.25 per ton to $81.16 per ton.

The impact of these policies is savings of $422,229 in bulk material disposal through the first three quarters of 2009 and projected savings for the entire year are $574,265.

The decision to stop collection of construction material was made after a review of operations of the Ridge Road facility showed a significant number of repeat users, many of whom were contractors and builders.

“These businesses were basically being subsidized by the taxpayers of Brick Township,” said Mayor Acropolis.  “Instead of bringing the materials to a fee-based facility – something they were likely charging customers for – they were bringing it to the public works yard and making the disposal the responsibility of Brick Township’s taxpayers.  Our policy put an end to that.”

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