New Jersey’s Bergen County Utilities Authority (BCUA) reports that its tire and electronics collection programs held at Bergen Community College, Paramus, May 18 and June 1 proved successful.
Benedict A. Focarino, BCUA chairman, says, “The BCUA’s efforts to reduce the number of unwanted tires have continually proven to be quite successful.” Focarino adds, “We’ve collected a total of 1,400 tires for recycling in just two collection events held this year. Our Electronics and Computer Recycling Program is equally successful. Our two events have resulted in the collection of 22 tons of computers and electronic equipment.”
As a result of the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) Tire Recycling Grant, the BCUA offers residents tire recycling programs several times a year. Focarino says the tire recycling program is important because of the environmental impact tires have on the solid waste stream. He says, “with over 240 million tires being discarded every year, we need to recycle tires now more than ever.”
Since 1995 the BCUA’s tire recycling program has recycled more than 200,000 tires. The collection events are developed and run by the BCUA’s Solid Waste Division.