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County Begins Light Bulb Recycling Program
Route 528 Upgrades Also Planned
By Bill McLaughlin
The Ocean County recycling program began a fluorescent light bulb collection program at the Lakewood and Stafford recycling centers last week. The northern recycling center is located at 601 New Hampshire Avenue in Lakewood. The southern center is at 225 Recovery Road in Manahawkin.
A maximum five light bulbs or lamps can be dropped off between 7:30 a.m. and 3 p.m., Monday through Saturday in Lakewood and Stafford at no cost to residents.
Businesses can recycle fluorescent fixtures through Supreme Asset Management and Recovery, located in the Lakewood Industrial Park. Supreme recycles TVs, computers, light fixtures and other electronic equipment.
The freeholder board agreed that recycling these bulbs should be done immediately.
"All (fluorescent) bulbs are 100 percent recyclable," said Freeholder James Lacey, the freeholder board's liaison to the recycling program. "Unfortunately, people tend to break the mercury bulbs if they don't fit in the trash can. That can spill the mercury inside."
Lacey said disposing of the bulbs properly will prevent mercury seeping into the ground water and eventually polluting Barnegat Bay.
"I want to encourage all of our residents to include recycling in their daily lives and take advantage of the free programs offered by the county," Lacey said. "These programs come with environmental and economic benefits that will be everlasting."
County solid waste management director Ernie Kuhlwein Jr. said fluorescent bulb disposal is regulated and businesses pay for their removal.
Freeholder Joseph Vicari, also head of the Berkeley School District, said school districts also pay for the privilege.
"Schools pay the same rate as businesses," Vicari noted.
As a way to cut down on energy use, Freeholder Gerry Little displayed an energy saver bulb that he said contributed to a $100 monthly drop in his family's energy
budget.
"It's an amazing product," Little said. "They come in 40, 60 and 100 watt bulbs
and also flood lights for outdoors that look just like the others."
Lacey said the lure to this improved technology is a seven-year life span, about 10 times current bulbs.
There will also be one-day drop-off locations for hazardous material throughout the county and light bulb drop-offs can be made there. Last spring, the county disposed of more than 154,000 pounds of waste. There is no charge to residents, but they must register beforehand to drop off hazardous waste. Residents can drop off these materials at any site once they're registered.
Phone numbers to register for the drop-offs are: 732-367-0802 for Lakewood and Point Pleasant; 732-506-5047 for Toms River and Lacey; and 609-978-0913 for Stafford and Long Beach.
Typical household goods needing special care are painting materials, aerosol cans, pool and garden chemicals, auto maintenance products, industrial strength cleaning agents and waste oil and gasoline.
The times and dates of hazardous waste disposal throughout the county are: October 17, Lacey Recycling Center, Municipal Lane from noon to 6 p.m.; October 19, Long Beach Public Works Garage, 80th Street at Long Beach Boulevard, noon to 6 p.m.; October 20, Stafford Public Works Yard, 320 Hay Road, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.; October 24, Lakewood Municipal Garage, One American Way, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.; October 26, Point Pleasant Beach municipal parking lot, Arnold and Ocean avenues, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.; and October 27, Toms River Municipal Garage, Church Road, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Route 528 To Get Upgrades
In other business, the freeholders will award a $2.53 million road and drainage improvement contract to Lucas Brothers Inc. of Morganville in northern Monmouth County at the October 3 public meeting.
The contract covers repairs to County Route 528 in Jackson which should begin by the end of this year. The project should be completed in about a year. Preparation for the road work will begin in late fall with the actual road work to commence next spring.
A 2.4-mile section of the busy roadway from Route 571 east to Van Hiseville will be upgraded. Route 528 is one of the most important load-bearing roads in the northern part of the county. It begins at the Mantoloking Bridge and ends at the Burlington County line.
The entire project will be funded by state dollars, Freeholder Director John Kelly said.
"Jackson is one of our fastest-growing communities. This project will ensure this important road is modern and safe for years to come," said Kelly.
County engineer Ronald Lotrecchio said the road repair follows significant work already done in this area. The Jameson Bridge just east of Route 571 was replaced and the Leesville Road-Don Connor Boulevard intersection near town hall has already been completed.
There will be wider shoulders and improved drainage to prevent ponding on the roadway.
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