The Alternative Press

The City of Summit Recycling Advisory Committee (RAC) presented Summit Downtown Inc. (SDI) with its Recycler of the Month Award, recognizing the business organization for its efforts to improve recycling in downtown Summit.

Through its administration of the New Jersey Clean Communities grant program over the past three years, SDI has provided funding to the City to purchase numerous recycling bins for the downtown area. Among the purchases are street recycling bins for commingled cans and bottles as well as three multi-compartment recycling bins for use by businesses. Two of the multi-compartment bins are in the DeForest Ave. shopper lots and the third will be placed behind the Chamber of Commerce at 71 Summit Avenue.

SDI funds have also been used to retrofit 30 existing trash containers with recycling lids and to purchase and install signage for the recycling of commingled bottles and cans downtown. In 2011, SDI funded the purchase of five paper recycling bins for locations where pedestrians read and dispose of newspapers, and additional paper bins will be purchased in 2012.

Funding recycling bins is a big step, but encouraging businesses and residents to use them consistently is equally important. SDI has been instrumental in working with the RAC to communicate recycling initiatives to the downtown businesses through e-mails and even a dedicated recycling e-newsletter. SDI has provided a forum at its meetings for the RAC to discuss ways to improve recycling. The RAC thanks SDI for being a willing and generous partner with the RAC and awards them Recycler of the Month.

Recycler of the Month Award recipients may be individuals, businesses or other organizations. The RAC — a volunteer committee appointed by Common Council to assist the City in identifying and implementing programs to increase recycling in Summit — considers several criteria in selecting Recycler of the Month recipients. First, the recycling activity or project should be innovative or go beyond traditional recycling activities. Next, the activity should be continuous and sustainable. The RAC prefers ongoing efforts to one-time events. Finally, the activity should be replicable by others.

To be considered for individual or organization efforts in recycling (reduce-reuse-recycle), contact the Summit Recycling Advisory Committee, at GoGreen@cityofsummit.org.