The Borough of Rumson is proud to have multiple ways residents and businesses can recycle. In addition to single stream curbside recycling (the pickup schedule is listed here) and a recycling depot located behind Borough Hall where items can be dropped off, the Borough holds two Green Days each year where residents and businesses can have documents shredded, safely recycle computer equipment and electronics as well as books. Recycling benefits our land, water and air. When you recycle you are:

• Reducing the amount of waste sent to landfills and incinerators

• Conserving natural resources such as timber, water and minerals

• Increasing economic security by tapping a domestic source of materials

• Preventing pollution by reducing the need to collect new raw materials

• Saving energy

• Supporting American manufacturing and conserving valuable resources

• Helping to create jobs in the recycling and manufacturing industries in the United States

RECYCLING GENERAL RULES OF THUMB

Most glass, metal and plastic containers as well as most paper products you use are recyclable. The general exceptions to each material is listed here:

1. GLASS: Drinking glasses, stemware, plate glass like mirrors & windows or any heat resistant glass like Pyrex are NOT recyclable. Also, any glass container with non-glass components like a Grolsch beer bottle with the ceramic top attached or a glass jar with metal clasp attached cannot be recycled with your household recyclables

2. PLASTIC: Only plastics with the numbers 1,2 & 5 stamped inside the triangle can be recycled curbside with your household items at this time.

3. METAL: Metal is very easily recycled and most clean metal is accepted curbside. Things like metal wire, batteries or anything that is made with a combination of materials like a small appliance or toy is not accepted curbside.

4. PAPER & CARDBOARD: Paper products are also very easily and efficiently recycled and are widely accepted curbside. The exception is wet paper or cardboard, hardcover books or anything with food or grease like a pizza box.

WHAT ABOUT THE OTHER STUFF?

But what about the multitude of other things you want to get out of your house, but don’t know what to do besides throw away in the trash? Below is a list of ideas for those hard to recycle items:

1. Plastic packaging: Plastic bags, plastic film, bubble wrap and other forms of soft plastic packaging are accepted at most larger grocery stores like ACME, Trader Joe’s, Whole Foods. The Rumson School district is planning to begin accepting these items again as part of the annual TREX contest where they are recycled into playground equipment, boardwalk timbers, planters and benches.

2. Styrofoam: The white blocks of Styrofoam that come in delivery boxes can be taken to Middletown train station or Middletown recycling center to be melted down an made into other products .

3. Metal Coat Hangers: Rumson Cleaners and most other dry cleaners will take them back to reuse.

4. Shoes: There are several shoe recycling programs nearby. DSW on Routh 36 participates in the Soles4Souls program and accepts drop-offs. Also, the Nike store at Jersey Shore Premium Outlets in Tinton Falls has a recycling program.

5. Clothing: Old clothing can be donated to Goodwill, Salvation Army or the like; consigned at stores like Green Street in Red Bank or Double Take Boutique in Short Hills; or recycled at places like Blue Jeans Go Green.

6. Furniture: Usable furniture can be picked up by ReStore Habitat for Humanity, Jersey Shore Rescue Mission and St. Josephs Workshop to name a few.

7. Toys: Gently used toys can be donated to organizations like Madonna House in Neptune.

8. Electronics and small appliances: Can be dropped off at Monmouth County Recycling facility or sold to Monmouth Wire & Computer Recycling and are accepted at many municipal recycling depots during special recycling days.

9. Shredded paper: Many towns such as Rumson offer paper shredding days where they will not only shred your sensitive documents, but will accept shredded paper as well.

10. Leaves, brush and grass clippings: Please leave grass clipping on your lawn, they act as fertilizer! For the leaves and brush, most towns offer curbside pickup, but you could also carve out a small area in your yard to compost your own leaves and brush

11. Eye glasses: Good Will or a local Vision center such as Walmart or Pearl will take back glasses.

12. Tennis balls: if your club or town does not participate in a tennis ball recycling program, offer the balls to your local school or day care center to use on chair legs or sharp edges surfaces.

13. Books: Gently used books can be donated to Bridges of Books.

SMALL BUT IMPORTANT CHANGES

It is impossible not create some waste, but we can all make small changes the help minimize our impact on the world around us. Below is a list of some ways you can be part of the solution.

1. Recycle everything that can be recycled. Refer to the Recycling guidelines graphic or visit our website (www.rumsonnj.gov/env) for detailed information on recycling.

2. Avoid single-serve items, instead buy in bulk and package yourself in reusable containers if you need smaller portions to go.

3. Do not use a straw in your drink unless they are biodegradable and ask retailers to make the switch.

4. Ask for a non-Styrofoam “to go” container. Styrofoam is one of the hardest things to recycle and one of the most damaging to the planet! Let your favorite stores know that you would prefer they not use it.

5. Say NO to disposable plastic water bottles; instead purchase a reusable water bottle and refill as necessary. Use a reusable coffee travel mug instead of using a paper cup for your hot drinks on the go.

6. Avoid disposable plastic bags when shopping, instead purchase a few reusable ones to keep in your car or purse. My favorite is Envirosax because they are super cute, made from recycled polyester and fold up so small & light you can always have them in your purse, diaper bag or backpack.

7. Transition to natural plastic alternatives that can biodegrade such as biodegradable or compostable plastic bags, cups, plates and cutlery made from plant fibers.

8. In lieu of virgin paper, purchase only recycled paper products, which are readily available at most mainstream and specialty retailers.

9. Start Composting at your home. Most kitchen scraps and yard waste can be composted into nutrient rich soil for your lawn and garden.

WHAT CAN I RECYCLE?

In addition to glass, metal, and plastic as shown on the chart below, we accept all mixed paper, magazines, and cardboard. Also, Styrofoam can be recycled at the Middletown Styrofoam Recycling Collection Center.

Middletown Styrofoam Recycling Program Collection Centers Now Open

Middletown now has the ability to do Styrofoam recycling, and its two collection centers are open to ALL Monmouth County residents.

Effective immediately, residents of Monmouth County can drop off clean Expanded Polystyrene (EPS) foam packaging materials from large items, such as: televisions, appliances, computers and furniture at the two below locations.

OPEN LOCATIONS & OPERATION INFORMATION

Thursday through Monday 8:30 AM-4:30 PM

Middletown Recycling Center 52 Kanes Lane

Middletown, NJ 07748

Middletown Train Station 746 Orchard Street Middletown, NJ 07748

Please note: Packing Peanuts are not accepted here, but can easily be taken to your local PostNet or UPS stores where they will be reused in future packing shipments. UPS stores will also accept gently used bubble wrap for reuse in their deliveries.

For more information, visit:www.middletownnj.org