Contents
Click here to download a 14 MB PDF of this Plan Amendment.

• Plan Home

• Introduction

1. Compliance with State Plan 

2. Attainment of the Mandated Municipal Solid Waste Recycling Goal

3. Existing and Proposed Morris County Source Reduction, Recycling and Waste Diversion  Programs

4. Source Separation

5. Materials Mandated to be Source Separated and Recycled

6. Additional Materials

7. Materials That are No Longer Designated to be Source Separated and Recycled

8. Enforcement Program

9. Municipal Responsibilities

Solid Waste Management
Plan Amendment
Morris County, New Jersey

Response to the January 2006 New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection Solid Waste Management and Sludge Management State Plan Update - March 2007

4. Source Separation

As defined in N.J.S.A. 13:1E-99.12. Definitions, the terms "source separation" or "source separated" means "the process by which materials are separated at the point of generation by the generator thereof from solid waste for the purposes of recycling." Morris County reaffirms that "source separation" is the primary method of separating the recyclable waste stream from the solid waste stream for the following reasons:

• Source separation is mandated by law under the New Jersey Source Separation and Recycling Act (N.J.S.A 13:1e-99 et. seq.). In support of this law, the MCMUA favors a consistent source separation policy throughout the residential, commercial and institutional sectors.
   

• Source separation promotes the removal of all designated recyclable materials from the waste stream and, therefore, helps in achieving high reduction rates.
   

• Source separation promotes clean, marketable materials by limiting levels of contamination. Contamination undermines long-term marketability of recyclable materials.
   

• Source separation enables the recycler at the source to receive the economic benefits of cost avoidance by not disposing of recyclable materials as solid waste as well as enabling the recycler to receive revenue by the sale of the recyclable material.
   

• Source separation fosters a free market, independent of the solid waste collection and disposal system. This reduces the need for burdensome regulations and costly enforcement.
   

• Proper documentation is difficult, if not impossible, when recyclables are mixed with solid waste.
   

• Source separation fosters competition among recycling companies, thereby keeping costs low and quality of services high.
   

• Source separation encourages a thought process for each individual recycler that solid waste disposal is every person's responsibility. This can foster further source reduction and recycling activities at work, home and school.