Nearly 250 tons of nursery and greenhouse film
and approximately 2,000 plastic pesticide containers
and nursery pots were recycled last year under two
agricultural conservation programs again being offered
this spring, Agriculture Secretary Charles M. Kuperus
announced today.
“These recycling programs are an important
way for the agricultural community to expand our
role as stewards of the land by promoting the reuse
of agricultural products, which helps save valuable
landfill space,” said Secretary Kuperus.
New Jersey’s nursery and greenhouse film
collection and recycling program is currently underway
at two regional collection sites through September
3rd. Film (plastic greenhouse cover) is being accepted
at the Cumberland County Solid Waste Complex in Deerfield,
Cumberland County, and the Burlington County Occupational
Training Center in Mount Holly. The Mount Holly site
also will accept film from out-of-state growers.
Information on each site’s procedures for film
transport, collection dates and tipping fees is available
at www.state.nj.us/agriculture.
The film recycling program was initiated by the
Department of Agriculture in 1997. Last year’s
collection of 248 tons of film represented a 4 percent
increase over the previous year and an annual record
under the program. Since the program began, growers
have recycled 1,367 tons of film.
Growers will have the opportunity to recycle empty
plastic pesticide containers and nursery pots from
9 a.m. to noon on June 10th at the Cumberland County
Solid Waste Complex in Deerfield; on June 11th at
the Burlington County Resource Recovery Complex in
Mansfield, and on June 14th at the Warren County
Fairgrounds in Harmony Township.
Non-refillable, high-density polyethylene #2 (HDPE
#2) containers used by agricultural, professional
and commercial applicators, as well as HDPE #2 nursery
pots, will be accepted under this free program.
Containers must be no larger than 55 gallons and
properly rinsed. Nursery pots also must be properly
rinsed. The program is open to anyone who holds a
N.J. Department of Environmental Protection pesticide
license and to state, county and municipal government
agencies.
The pesticide container and nursery pot recycling
program is a collaborative effort among the N.J.
Departments of Agriculture and Environmental Protection,
Burlington County Solid Waste, Cumberland County
Improvement Authority, Pollution Control Financing
Authority of Warren County, Ag Container Recycling
Council and USAg Recycling, Inc.
For additional information on these programs, visit
the Department of Agriculture website at http://www.state.nj.us/agriculture/recyclingpestcons.htm or
contact Karen Kritz of the Department of Agriculture
at (609) 984-2506 or karen.kritz@ag.state.nj.us |