KARROW'S RECYCLING COORDINATOR EXEMPTION LEGISLATION A MONEY SAVER

In an effort to save taxpayer money, Assemblywoman Marcia Karrow today introduced legislation that would exempt smaller municipalities from the requirement to designate and employ a municipal certified recycling coordinator.

“Many small towns simply do not have the resources to respond to every bureaucratic initiative put forth by the Corzine Administration,” explained Karrow. “The towns I represent rely on volunteers more often than not to provide municipal services – recycling and otherwise. Small towns don’t have the time or money to meet the excessive demands this law places on their municipalities. The last thing we need is more government  intrusion into our lives dictating to us that we need to spend more taxpayer money to accomplish something we are already doing.”

According to the state’s “Recycling Enhancement Act” of 2007, each municipality is required to designate a certified recycling coordinator no later than January 13, 2010. A person with no previous formal training must complete a 21-day training program to quality for the position. A person who has been a municipal recycling coordinator, but has fewer than 10 years of experience must complete a four-day training program and pass the associated exam.

Karrow’s bill, A-3468, would exempt municipalities with populations of less than 10,000 from having to hire and train recycling coordinators.

“This is yet another onerous and costly requirement that will place an additional burden on small towns that quite frankly have already been pushed to the fiscal brink,” added Karrow. “Enough is enough. More government isn’t the solution to all our problems. In fact, it’s often the cause.”

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