Middlesex County reports 70% recycling rate for 2022; announces public events and trainings

Deputy Director Narra told the Board of County Commissioners that Middlesex County’s 2022 total recycling rate was 70%, the highest total recycling rate in the state.

Narra said the county also met the state’s municipal solid waste recycling goal of 50% for the first time and credited residents, businesses, institutions and municipal recycling coordinators for the results.

The division announced several upcoming events: a paper-shred program on Saturday, May 3, at Babbage Park in North Brunswick from 9 a.m. to noon; a free women’s cancer screening event on May 3 at the county clinic, 11 Kennedy Boulevard, East Brunswick, running 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., offering breast, cervical and colon cancer screening plus HIV tests and basic health measures; and a parks-and-recreation fundraising softball tournament on May 10 at Warren Park in Woodbridge benefiting pancreatic cancer research at the Rutgers Cancer Institute.

Narra also highlighted a recent Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) training hosted at the county Fire Academy. He and other officials praised Eric Martin, training director, and OEM Director Jack Kramer for organizing a multi-jurisdictional CERT event that included municipal and regional volunteers. "It was a packed room," Narra said, and he encouraged residents to consider joining local CERT teams.

Commissioner Charlie Kenny and others also praised county planning and engineering staff for presenting at a recent transportation conference and for road-safety work. The county said it is reviewing options to expand transportation access around Kennedy Boulevard and other county service locations.

Officials asked residents to consult the county website for recycling guidance, tax appeal forms and event details.