A Request for Proposal (RFP) was put out today from the municipality for electronic waste (commonly known as ‘e-waste’) recycling. If enacted, this would allow residents to dispose of their e-waste in town and provide the municipality with Recycling Tonnage Credits that can be used to address the Borough’s recycling needs. Currently, residents would either have to drive out of town to dispose of their e-waste at scrap yards that accept such material or wait for one of the few Union County “Electronic Recycling Event” announced throughout the year. In either case, none of the material collected benefits the town since it cannot count that material for Recycling Tonnage Grants which, in turn, can be used to help pay for anything specifically related to recycling in the Borough; those grants lessen the burden on the taxpayer.
The bid specification states that a 20-yd3 or 40-yd3 enclosed sea container will be provided by the winning bidder – registered and approved by the State of New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection – at no cost to the Borough and that there shall be no cost to the Borough for keeping the container at the current DPW (Department of Public Works) facility. The RFP also states that a container, when full, is to be replaced with an empty one, again, at no cost to the Borough.
The only possible charge would come in the form of a bid price that is based on a dollar amount per pound which the winning bidder would pay or charge the Borough for the e-waste picked up. The value of electronic market material has declined in recent years and the municipality might be charged to have e-waste material taken away where before it would have been paid. The municipality expects that moneys paid out would be recouped, either partially or wholly, by way of Recycling Tonnage Credits.
The RFP defines electronic waste as:
- Monitors
- Televisions
- Printers
- CPUs
- Modems
- Keyboards
- Cell Phones
- Mainframe computers
- Copiers
- Fax Machines
- Typewriters
- Telephone PBX
- CRTs
- Laptops
- Cables
- Terminals
- Lab Equipment
- VCRs
- Stereo and Radio Test Equipment
- Medical Equipment
- Toner Cartridges
- Plasma TVs
- LCD TVs
“Other items” was added at the end to cover other electronic equipment not specified.
The annual contract has a one-year renewal option that will be at the discretion of the municipality. Tonnage reports would be provided quarterly to the municipality and payments are to be made within 30 days after the container is picked up at DPW.
The deadline for submissions is June 12, 2014.