Splendor In The Grass

By Tom Mongelli

Jackson Township - As officials in Ocean County's last commumity to collect yard clippings from homeowners prepare to discontinue the program, they offer an alternative and ramp up re-orientation for a less costly, more environmentally-friendly solution.

The collection service became a point of contention for Township Council President Michael Kafton, who characterized the discontinuation as an affront for homeowners who have used it for years. But Mayor Mike Reina points out that Jackson is the lone holdout town still providing the service, and the expense is turning astronomical - which he sees as a worse alternative for taxpayers.

"The costs of organic dumping fees have [risen]from $60,000 in 2006 to $201,000 in 2008," Reina says. But the program continues through year's end, in an abridged form.

The township composting site no longer accepts grass clippings. But the yard waste facility on Kierych Drive does. Reina has contracted a private firm to collect them in 30-yard dumpsters and truck them to Pennsylvania. The cost is being covered by a grant from the state Department of Environmental Protection, based on the township's recycling tonnage.

"Each homeowner will have to just present some type of ID stating they're Jackson residents," says the mayor. "And once a week they'll be able to dump either three 30-gallon containers or three 30-gallon trash bags of freshly-cut grass."

The Jackson web site and the Township Council meeting room are filled with information about ways to reuse clippings to nourish gardens instead of tossing them out.
Homeowners unwilling to adapt still have other alternatives. The Ocean County Landfill in Manchester will accept yard debris at a fee of five dollars.

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