POLL: Should Residents Who Don't Recycle Be Fined?

Last week, during a , one councilman expressed his opinion that those that don’t comply with mandatory recycling in the township should face a fine.

“People in town must recycle,” Councilman Sam Alderisio said. “And there should be a penalty for people who don’t.”

The comment got a mixed reaction from the crowd of over 100 residents who attended the meeting to hear the discussion and voice their opinions on recycling in the Mahwah. Some in the crowd booed, while one resident made a public comment in support of the idea.

Other residents talked of concerns about the idea, saying that it would be logistically impossible, or too expensive, to enforce.

According to the township’s recycling program ordinance, recycling is mandatory. “Effective January 1, 2008, it shall be mandatory for all persons to separate newspaper, glass, designated plastic and aluminum from all other solid waste produced in or at any premises in the Township,” the ordinance says.

The ordinance says township departments are responsible for enforcing the law and that anyone in violation is subject to penalties. But, it only references generic penalties anyone can be assigned for violating any segment of the township code, and does not mention a specific punishment for those who do not abide by the recycling law.

So, Patch wants to know – what do you think? Should residents be fined if they do not recycle?