Newark amps up recycling efforts

Beginning Jan. 1, Delaware implemented the universal recycling law passed by state legislators in 2010. According to Mayor Vance A. Funk III, the law requires all apartment complexes and multi-family residences to place recycling dumpsters in their developments to be accessed by tenants.

Funk said the goal for Newark is to have the city recycle 40 percent of its trash.

The Public Works Department will be responsible for enforcing this regulation. Apartment complexes that do not abide by this law will face warnings, followed by fines, Funk said. 

Darinda Cesario, a manager of the Apartments at Pine Brook, said the apartment complexes always had recycling bins and residents participated in recycling programs before the law was enforced. Cesario said she worked actively with the city on the issue of universal recycling and she did not expect to see such a large improvement.

“I was surprised to see how many residents responded to the law and utilize the recycling services,” Cesario said.

According to a press release from the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control , recycling services will now be available to all Delaware residents and commercial businesses and institutions.

To help state businesses and institutions comply with the Jan. 1, 2014 deadline for the universal recycling law, DNREC will hold a series of informational workshops in February throughout the state, according to the DNREC.

Funk said he would like to see an active implementation of the law. He said he believes the university strongly impacts maintaining a clean environment in Newark and the university should encourage its incoming freshmen to recycle and educate the students about the benefits of recycling, Funk said.

Senior Victoria Black said she hopes to see recycling improve in the city. Black said she is educated about the benefits of recycling and she strongly believes there will be a visible recycling improvement in Newark.

“It is a good thing that the recycling bins arebeing provided because there is more incentive to recycle,” Black said.

This universal recycling law is expected to show a great outcome, Funk said, and the city is looking forward to achieving its goal.

Senior Nicholas Dowse said he thinks recycling is sometimes an inconvenience if recycling bins are out of the way. Dowse said he hopes that improving recycling accessibility would benefit the environment and city.

“It could be a good idea to put recycling bins right next to trash cans on the streets,” Dowse said.