The year in trash: SCMUA issues its annual report

With global warming, pollution and the increasing volume of garbage thrown into landfills each year, Sussex County’s Municipal Utilities Authority (SCMUA) is fighting a tough battle to preserve the environment. SCMUA was created in 1971 by the Board of Chosen Freeholders with a mission to “provide the county’s businesses and residents with cost-effective, environmentally friendly services,” according to chairman Karl Meyer, in SCMUA’s 2005 Annual Report. SCMUA’s 2005 report explains not only its fiscal situation, but more importantly, the positive impact it had and continues to have on the environment. With four facilities under its management, SCUMA provides services like solid waste disposal at its Lafayette site which properly disposes of solid wastes. In its effort to help the environment and work within EPA regulations, SCMUA also takes vegetative waste and wood waste which is then made into compost and mulch. In 2005, over 2,553 tons of vegetative waste was processed and 122,714 tons of solid waste were accepted. Also in Lafayette, the recycling center deals with common recyclables such as cans, bottles and newspapers but also heavier material such as tires, metals, car batteries, waste oil and anti-freeze. The last three are accepted at no charge. All of SCMUA’s reuse and recycling efforts have saved the equivalent of nearly two months of landfill space. Currently, the 51 acre facility has a projected life into 2013, but SCMUA has applied for a permit amendment which would take the facility into the year 2016. SCMUA’s report also shows how businesses and residents in the county are doing their part, recycling 5,638 tons of traditional recycling last year. The next two locations are Hampton and Wantage townships’ wastewater facilities. Hampton’s site, which was built in 1987 for the 300 units in Hampton Commons, began last year to also serve Lowes, and expects more expansions this year. Wantage’s Clove Hill Manor has 60 senior housing units under service and is capable of handling the 117 units. The last site is the Upper Wallkill Valley Water Pollution Control Facility. This facility treats wastewater for Franklin, Hamburg, Sussex Boroughs, as well as portions of Vernon, Hardyston, Wantage and Sparta Township. Since it’s start 20 years ago, the facility has treated and discharged over 7.6 billion gallons of wastewater and throughout this time period has consistently met with all permit requirements. This location also treats countywide septic waste. The residuals, or biosolids, are composted into a soil conditioner used by area sod farms, golf courses and landscaping contractors — a much more environmentally friendly way to reuse the biosolids as opposed to incineration. The future of this facility includes expansion so that it may also service Vernon’s new town center and Mountain Creek Development. SCMUA also reported on the Wallkill River Watershed Management Project (WRWMG). The project was created in March 2000 in order to gather all the necessary stakeholders together to protect the NJ side of the watershed and meet all the environmental needs of the state. They conduct surface water quality samples; install roadside watershed warning signs and clean up nonpoint source pollution (NPS) — non industry pollutants, such as excess fertilizers, sediment from construction sites and pet wastes which get washed into our rivers/streams by heavy rains. The project also provides educational and outreach programs to the community. Last year, they had the honor of doing a presentation titled Wallkill River Basin (N.Y./N.J.): Watershed Partners, Watershed Progress at the Water Environment Federation’s 2005 TMDL National Conference in Philadelphia. The presentations explained how the WRWMG came to be and how the water sampling program was developed, and “how strong stakeholder partnerships can achieve lasting beneficial impacts for the environment.” Last summer, WRWMG also held a hand on opportunity at Sparta’s Station Park. Approximately 500 feet of the river was cleaned up and almost 125 trees and shrubs planted along the bank. The trees and shrubs will act as a natural filter for NPS pollution draining into the river from storm water runoff. The group has even developed an educational calendar for 2006 which was funded by the United States Environmental Protection Agency, which has photos of water sties throughout the county and information on the watershed, NPS, water conservation, restoration projects, water quality monitoring and recreational opportunities within the watershed. For more information you can visit its Web site at www.wallkillriver.org.