Wyckoff Joins 'America Recycles Day' Movement

This week, Wyckoff will join a national movement aimed at urging residents to make recycling a priority.

At its last meeting, the township committee passed a resolution proclaiming this Friday “America Recycles Day.”

The “America Recycles Day” movement is a program of Keep America Beautiful, and is dedicated to spreading awareness of and celebrating recycling throughout the Unites States.

The movement asks local governments to issue proclamations and residents to organize events that promote recycling on or around Nov. 15 each year.

In Wyckoff, officials are encouraging residents to become part of the township’s ‘Nifty Fifty’ Program, which is aimed at getting 50% of Wyckoff residents to recycle. According to the township's Recyclometer, just over 35% of residents recycled in September of this year.

In addition to helping save the earth, officials say joining the program can lead to a significant cost savings for the town.

“There are many ways residents and businesses can participate,” the committee said in a release about its resolution.

“Small changes in everyone’s recycling habits can help the Township avoid up to $100,000 in garbage disposal fees by diverting [items] from the garbage containers you place at the curb to recycling containers you put at the curb.”

Last year, about 2.1 million people participated in “America Recycles Day,” according to the movement’s website.

The township released the following tips that it is asking locals to follow in honor of America Recycles Day:

• Increase your household recyclables by using the easy Single Stream recycling collections every other week. Place in one container all paper, plastic items numbered 1 – 7, (no Styrofoam) cans, glass bottles, jars and wax coated food cartons.
• Every Wednesday the DPW will pick up household appliances/metal bulk items such as residential room air conditioners, residential refrigerators/freezers, (with doors removed) and stoves.  (Please note, this collection is suspended during Leaf Collection). Simply call 201-891-7000 ext. 101 to request curbside collection. Removing heavy items avoids higher costs because we pay by weight. 
• Recycle your electronics (TV’s, computers, printers, DVD’s, etc.) Bring them to the Recycling Conservation Center at 476 West Main Street.
• Put a lid on your garbage containers – wet garbage weighs more so it costs more to haul away. 
• Count your garbage containers.  If you are putting out 2 containers of garbage per week, you can reduce it to 1 by better recycling.
• Make it a family affair.  Getting your children involved early will help us achieve our Nifty-Fifty 
• If you are installing new carpet, ask your installer to take the old carpet away with them.
• Stop by Town Hall and pick up a NIFTY-FIFTY sticker for your recycling containers.
• Donate your appliances and used furniture or post it on one of the many websites available as FREE.