*** PRESS RELEASE ***
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October , 2019
Bernards Township Environmental Commission Announces: Plastic Bag Recycling Challenge
The Bernards Township Environmental Commission is pleased to announce the launch on October 15, 2019, of the Trex Challenge, a project to encourage residents to recycle thin film plastics. By recycling 500 pounds of thin film plastic garbage within six months – by April 14, 2020 – Bernards Township will qualify to receive a high-performance park bench made of recycled plastic. Trex, a company that specializes in composite decking, furniture and other eco-friendly products, aggregates the thin film plastics collected and repurposes them to create outdoor benches.
The Environmental Commission is partnering with the Basking Ridge Business Alliance (BRBA), with Alliance members hosting collection bins around town. Jim Foti, VP and events coordinator of the BRBA, said “Our mission is to focus on helping businesses and the community work
together, nurturing positive growth and interaction, and to preserve those unique qualities that make Basking Ridge a very special place in which to live and work. Participating in the Trex recycling challenge achieves those goals.”
Bins will be stationed at the following locations during open hours:
- Bernards Township Public Library, 32 South Maple Avenue
- Somerset Hills YMCA, 140 Mt. Airy Road
- Postal Annex, 403 King George Road (Dewy Meadow)
- WABBA Travel, 66 South Finley Avenue
- Keller Williams Towne Square Realty, 222 Mt. Airy Road
- Bernards Township Engineering Services Building, 277 S. Maple Ave
- Pill Hill Recycling Center, Pill Hill Road
Open hours for each drop off site will be posted on the Bernards Township website.
“Thin film plastics” are everyday items: Grocery bags and produce bags; case overwrap, pallet wrap and stretch film; dry cleaning bags, newspaper sleeves, ice bags, wood pellet bags, bubble wrap and air pillow (think Amazon shipping!), empty and clean cereal bags and bread bags.
These items, which are currently not recyclable in Somerset County, end up in landfills where plastic bags take hundreds of years to decompose, or, too frequently, they become litter that harms the environment. Joan Bannan Harris, Township Committee Liaison to the Environmental Commission, stated “We’re excited about this recycling challenge. According to Trex, 500 pounds collected is equal to about 38,000 plastic bags. By participating in this planet-friendly challenge, Bernards’ residents are helping to protect our environment.”
If you have any of the above items, please drop them off in one of these bins. All items must be clean, dry, and free of food residue. Only items placed in these Trex Challenge bins – not any other bins – will count toward the Trex Challenge.
CONTACT: Andrea Freijomil, Administrative Associate, afreijomil@Bernards.org
