Pilot Robo-can Recyling Program Planned For Bayville

The $37,765 check the township received from Ocean County Tuesday for Berkeley's recycling efforts over the last half of 2011 is welcome revenue, Mayor Carmen F. Amato Jr. said.

But Amato wants more the next time around.

Township officials are planning a pilot robo-can recycling program in a yet undecided section of Bayville for later in the year, Amato said at the Township Council meeting Tuesday night.

"This is a way we could increase revenue and cut down on workmen's comp cases," he said.

The township would use two of the older robo-can trucks in public works for the program, which would cut the number of public works employees needed for recycling pickups from three to one, the mayor said.

"This way the municipality does not have to purchase any additional trucks," he said.

Berkeley has had robo-can trucks for weekly garbage pickup for some time. But the twice a month recycling pickups are done with a regular recycling truck, which requires a driver and two other workers.

The move would also free up extra employees to work on other township projects, he said.

Amato said he and Public Works Director Steven J. Seiler are still researching what type and size of cans to use for the program.

Ocean County went to single-stream recycling several years ago, which means that all recyclables can be placed in a single container for pickup and don't need to be sorted.