News from the Somerset County Board of Chosen Freeholders
Public Information Contacts: Linda Van Zandt / Joanne Vuoso / Lisa Krueger
908.231.7020 publicinfo@co.somerset.nj.us
_____________________________________________________________________
October 27, 2010
County Joins Electronics Recycling Network
Under the New Jersey Electronic Waste Management Act, starting Jan. 1,
2011, manufacturers of certain electronic products generated by households and
small businesses and organizations are required to provide free and convenient
recycling services. As a result, the cost of demanufacturing and recycling covered
electronics will be billed to the electronic manufacturers rather than to the counties,
as it had been done in the past.
To comply with the new law, Somerset County will participate in the
Electronic Manufacturers Recycling Management Company LLC (MRM) Collection
Network for the operation of collection sites for the recycling of electronic products
covered under the New Jersey Electronic Waste Management Act.
In addition, as of Oct. 1, Somerset and Union counties entered a pilot to test
the program’s performance. This is three months in advance of the state-mandated
start-up date. The pilot is being funded by various manufacturers.
“As a participating partner in the MRM electronics network, Somerset County
stands to save close to $71,000 in 2011, based on 2009 electronic-recycling
poundage, in addition to savings realized over the three-month test period in 2010,”
said Freeholder Deputy Director Robert Zaborowski, solid waste management
liaison.
The transition will be seamless for county residents who will continue to
recycle electronics as they have done in the past, even though only certain
electronics are considered covered under the law.
Under the network, Somerset County will continue to use Newtech Recycling
Inc. in Somerset as its approved processor of electronics for MRM.
Residents can continue to recycle electronics at First Saturday of the Month
Drop-off events at the Somerset County Recycling Center, located at 40 Polhemus
Lane in Bridgewater. Also, they can now drop off electronics at Newtech Recycling
Inc., located at 600A Apgar Drive, Somerset 08873, weekdays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Both drop-off opportunities are free.
Acceptable
electronics
include
computers
(CPUs),
servers,
monitors/terminals/CRTs, televisions, printers, fax machines, copiers,
computer/laptop peripherals, telephones, cellular phones, telephone mainframes,
keyboards/mice, cables, wiring, circuit boards, modems, power supplies, laptop and
docking stations, audio-visual equipment, typewriters, VCRs, mainframe equipment,
controllers, camcorders, CDs, DVDs, computer disks, diskettes, videotapes,
cassette tapes and rechargeable and button-cell batteries.
For more information about the Electronic Waste Management Act and about
the network, contact Solid Waste Management Division Manager Diana Vigilante at
908-231-7681 or solidwaste@co.somerset.nj.us.
Jack M. Ciattarelli, Freeholder Director  Robert Zaborowski, Freeholder Deputy Director
Peter S. Palmer, Freeholder  Patricia L. Walsh, Freeholder  Patrick Scaglione, Freeholder
Somerset County Is An Equal Opportunity Employer