Highlights of the BCUA Solid Waste Division Programs and Services
BCUA Solid Waste Division - Technical Programs
The BCUA Solid Waste staff provides technical assistance to Bergen County municipalities which includes: liaison role to the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, and general assistance in meeting the recycling and source reduction goals of the Bergen County Solid Waste District. The Solid Waste Department provides a variety of programs geared towards Bergen County residents, municipalities, schools, businesses and civic groups. Some of these programs include the following:
Tire Recycling Program
In an effort to remove and recycle tires from Bergen County's municipal solid waste stream, the BCUA initiated a tire-recycling program. As part fo this program, the BCUA also offers tire amnesty collection days to allow residents to drop-off tires at locations in Bergen County. For a calender of tire amnesty collection days please
click here.
Many municipalities collect tires for recycling. Contact your municipal recycling coordinator to see if your town participates in this program. For further information about the BCUA tire program, contact Richard Baroch, Solid and Special Waste Program Manager, at (201) 807-8696.
Click here to go to the municipality section of the
Bergen County Website for more information about the services offered by your municipality.
Household Battery Management Program
The BCUA has required all Bergen County municipalities to include household-generated batteries as a designated recyclable material. Many municipalities collect batteries for recycling. Contact your municipal recycling coordinator to see if your town participates in this program.
Click here to go to the municipality section of the
Bergen County Website for more information about the services offered by your municipality.
Rechargeable Battery Recycling
Many retailers, including hardware stores, camera shops, and home improvement centers, who sell rechargeable batteries also collect spent batteries for recycling at their stores. Contact local retailers to see if they participate in this program.
For further information about the BCUA program, contact Richard Baroch, Solid and Special Waste Program Manager, at (201) 807-8696.
Municipal Recycling Coordinator Workshops
The BCUA Solid Waste Department hosts workshops, which provide pertinent recycling and source reduction information to municipalities. This information includes: new markets; NJDEP Grant Assistance; purchase of recycled products; composting and legislative issues.
For information about upcoming workshops, please contact Mark Vangieri, Solid Waste Program Planning Manager, at (201) 807-5823.
Waste Audit Program
The BCUA Business Waste Audit Program surveys each Bergen County company that employees 100 or more people. The BCUA utilizes this information to assist companies with solid waste disposal options and with implementing and expanding recycling, source reduction and procurement of recycled products programs.
For further information about this program, please contact Richard Baroch, Solid and Special Waste Program Manager, at (201) 807-8696.
Business and Government Seminars
The BCUA offers professional programs designed to educate and inform various business and industry groups, as well as government officials and public managers. The topics presented include the following:
- Recycling - Information presented includes: developing and implementing a recycling program, laws and statutes, marketing of materials, technical and educational assistance.
- Source Reduction - Information presented includes: understanding the unique characteristics of waste reduction as opposed to recycling, analysis of current waste generation behaviors, waste reduction techniques, procurement of products which promote waste reduction, cooperative purchasing, and conducting a waste audit.
- Purchasing of Recycled Products - Information presented includes: analysis of current purchasing practices, understanding the "close the loop" system, purchasing specifications, cooperative purchasing, and buy-recycled resources (the products which are available and their vendors.)
For further information about this program or to schedule a presentation, please contact Mark Vangieri, Solid Waste Program Planning Manager, at (201) 807-5823.
Assistance Publications
The Solid Waste Department provides two outreach publications.
- The "Recycling Bin" is a quarterly newsletter which provides BCUA programming information, as well as general recycling & waste reduction information to approximately 2,000 sources. For further information about the "Bin," please contact Lori Russo, Solid Waste Education/Technical Advisor at (201) 807-8692.
- The "Recycling Update" is a monthly external newsletter, which provides technical and marketing information to the Bergen County municipalities. For further information about the "Update," please contact Angela Bonanno-Lynch Solid Waste Education/Technical Advisor at (201) 807-5821.
Printed Materials/Publications
The following publications are written and developed by BCUA Solid Waste staff and periodically updated or revised.
- The Recycling Handbook for Businesses: This has been developed to assist businesses in the recycling of office paper, corrugated cardboard, aluminum, and glass.
- Comprehensive Guide to Waste Reduction: A 20-page brochure for residents geared towards practical, everyday tips on recycling and reducing solid waste.
- Environmental Shopping Guide: A 10-page brochure written and developed to assist consumers with making environmentally sound purchasing decisions.
- Recycling Market Directory: A directory which provides Bergen County municipalities with a list of recycling markets, and vendors.
- Recycling and Source Reduction Procurement Guidelines for Government/Public Agencies: A manual designed to assist government/public agencies in the effective implementation of a recycling and waste reduction procurement program. This information is directed to recycling coordinators and purchasing officers in county and municipal government agencies, school districts, and other public institutions.
- Recycling and Source Reduction Procurement Guidelines for Businesses: A manual designed to assist businesses in the procurement of products and/or services which will help to achieve the recycling and waste reduction goals of Bergen County. This information is directed to purchasing managers and recycling coordinators in the private sector.
- Business Waste Audit Manual: The "BCUA Business Waste Audit Manual" has been developed to assist companies with their waste disposal options and with implementing and expanding recycling, source reduction and procurement of recycled products programs.
- Recycling Material Fact Sheets: An assortment of 20 individual sheets, citing factual and educational information relevant to the specific material.
- Grass: Cut It And Leave It: A brochure which provides residents with basic information on the benefits of leaving grass clippings on their lawns.
- Backyard Composting: This publication contains information on how to compost in one's backyard, the benefits derived from composting, and the various containment methods that can be used.
- Recycling Marshal's Program for Elementary Schools: A 40 page manual for elementary schools with guidelines, specific instructions, goals, objectives and reproducible graphics for developing or enhancing a recycling program that can be managed and carried out by the students with minimal administrative involvement.
BCUA Environmental Programs Hotline
The Environmental Programs Hotline provides residents with an outlet to ask general recycling and waste reduction questions and get infromation regarding the BCUA’s Household Hazardous Waste collection program, computer and electronics recycling and tire recycling programs. The hotline also provides residents with an outlet to purchase backyard composters. The BCUA’s Environmental Programs Hotline number is 201-807-5825.
BCUA Honors
USEPA Recognition
- The BCUA has been honored as one of two county agencies nationwide recognized for its achievement in the areas of recycling and solid waste reduction by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA.)
With the release of "Cutting the Waste Stream in Half: Community Record-Setters Show How," a manual detailing the two county and sixteen municipal programs, the USEPA has recognized the efforts these communities have made in trying to combat one of our nation's most challenging environmental problems.
The BCUA has received the following EPA Awards:
- 2002 - Environmental Quality Award for Computer and Electronics Recycling Program
- 2005 - Environmental Quality Award for the BCUA Mercury Thermometer Swap Program
New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection Achievement in Recycling Award
- 2002 - Outstanding Achievement in Recycling Award for the BCUA Recycling Education Program
- 2004 - Outstanding Achievement in Recycling Award for the BCUA Special Management Program
2003 Solid Waste Association of North America Silver Excellence Award for the BCUA Special Waste Management Program.
Association of Environmental Authorities "WAVE" Awards
- The Association of Environmental Authorities (AEA) presents the WAVE Award each year to recognize an outstanding public relations or public education effort in the wastewater or solid waste area. The award recognizes those individuals or organizations that "make waves" ... that is, those who are active, always thinking, and who are seeking answers to problems in creative, progressive manners.
- 1994 - Outstanding Public Education Summer Camp Program
- 1997 - Outstanding Pre-School Recycling Program
- 1998 - Outstanding Solid Waste Public Education Program
- 1999 - Outstanding Household Hazardous Waste Collection Program
- 2005 - Forward Thinking Award for the Mercury Thermometer Swap Program
- 2007 - Forward Thinking Award for the BCUA School Hazardous Waste Removal and Grant Program
Recycling Programs
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