New Jersey lawmaker urges increased recycling

An article on NewsWorks, the website for Philadelphia-based WHYY radio, reports that the Senate Environment Committee has approved a New Jersey lawmaker’s legislation to increase state recycling.

Sen. Christopher ‘Kip’ Bateman, R-Somerset, New Jersey, told NewsWorks he was inspired by a recent visit to Trenton-based recycler TerraCycle, which collects items that are generally difficult to recycle into new items.

“I saw recycled toothbrushes,” Bateman said in the interview. “I saw recycled prescription containers, recycled records. I mean, you’d be amazed at how much can be recycled, and, obviously, it’s good for the environment.” 

Bateman pointed out the increasing importance placed on recycled products in the retail sector.

“You’re literally talking about millions of pounds around the world,” he told the radio station. “But it’s happening in like 60 countries right now. There’s more and more interest for cost savings and really for the environment to recycle additional material, not just bottles and cans and newspapers.”