Cumberland County Improvement Authority

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
January 4, 2008

IMPROVEMENT AUTHORITY ANNOUNCES NEW UNIVERSAL WASTE DROP-OFF LOCATIONS

MILLVILLE, NJ: In order to remain the top recycling County in New Jersey, the Cumberland County Improvement Authority, in a working partnership with our County municipalities, continues to develop free programs to assist residents with ways to properly manage solid waste. As part of this effort, the Improvement Authority has established six permanent “Universal Waste” drop off locations throughout the County. Cumberland County residents may begin using the free drop-off locations in January.

“Cumberland County has made great strides in becoming the top recycling County in the State,” said Albert Kelly, Improvement Authority Board Chairman. “However, there is even more we can do to recover outdated electronic equipment, household batteries, and compact fluorescent bulbs. Residents can now dispose of this material year-round instead of holding it for one of our Household Hazardous Waste and Electronics Recycling Days.”

“We are proud of the fact that recycling efforts sponsored by the Cumberland County Improvement Authority continue to improve our environment,” said Steven R. Wymbs, Improvement Authority Executive Director. “In fact, the results of our programs, and many similar programs across the country, are very clear: cleaner air and water, less pollution, more forested land, and reduced greenhouse gases. These are results we can all be proud of.”

“Many time’s computer equipment may still be in working condition,” said Bruce T. Peterson, Improvement Authority Freeholder Co-Liaison. “Individuals may just be looking to upgrade to a newer model with more memory. Therefore, we also encourage residents to take advantage of programs such as the Goodwill Industries Reconnect Program. As part of the program, Goodwill accepts donated computer equipment at any of their retail stores. In conjunction with Dell Computers, these components are recycled and remarketed. All of the proceeds support Goodwill’s non-profit training and employment programs. Goodwill staff will provide donors with a donation receipt.”

“Many Universal Waste products contain hazardous material that we want to keep out of landfills,” said Dennis DeMatte, Jr., Cumberland County Recycling Coordinator. “For example, according to the United States Environmental Protection Agency, the National Safety Council predicts that almost 250 million computers will need to be disposed of in the next five years. Components such as monitors, keyboards, and computer drives contain dangerous heavy metals, such as mercury and cadmium, which can be released into the environment if not disposed of properly.”

Electronic items including computers, monitors, VCRs, keyboards, servers, terminals, telephones, laptop computers, televisions, printers, stereos, computer wire, and mouse controllers will be accepted, as well as household batteries and compact fluorescent bulbs. Cumberland County residents may bring up to six units per visit to one of the following permanent drop off locations:

City of Vineland Public Works, 1086 E. Walnut Road
Telephone: 794-4250

City of Bridgeton Maintenance Building, Public Works Complex at Florida
Avenue
Telephone: 455-3230

Behind the Maurice River Township Municipal Garage, 556 Main Street,
Route 616, Leesburg
Telephone: 785-1120

The following locations are only open to residents served by these Convenience Centers:

Hopewell/Greenwich Townships Convenience Center
Lawrence Township Convenience Center
Upper Deerfield Township Convenience Center

For more information about Universal Waste or other recycling programs in Cumberland County, call the Improvement Authority at 856-825-3700 or visit their Web site at www.ccia-net.com.

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For more information about this press release, please contact Dennis DeMatte, Jr. at 856-825-3700