The purpose of Planet Newark was to attract recycling companies to Newark, New Jersey as part of its business development strategy to:
The primary motivation for this strategy came from a decade of landfill crisis. From 1980 to 1989 closure of local landfill sites drove the cost of disposal from less than $0.5 million to $21.5 million.
Newark had other challenges. Newark is a relatively poor American city where the median income is about half of the national average. It is situated at the centre of a major transportation network only 8 miles out of New York City. Newark's core population is 275,221 (1990) with 500,000 in the surrounding area. The high level of industrial activity related to transport, coupled with its population density created acute waste management problems for the region.
Newark implemented a comprehensive education program in support of recycling at both residential and commercial establishments, backed by state mandated recycling in 1987.
By 1993, Newark had diverted 44,230 tons of refuse from the solid waste stream, saving Newark over $3.75 million in disposal costs and netting close to $25,000 in revenues from the sale of recyclables. In addition, private sector recycling efforts diverted 235,000 tons by 1992, saving significant dollars.
Non-recyclable materials from households fell 21% - from 128,900 tons in 1989 to 101,500 tons in 1993. Newark contracted this material to be burned (2,250 tons per day) producing 1.4 million kilowatt hours of electricity a day. Additional recycling benefit came by recovering 12,000 tons of ferrous metal from the ash by utilizing magnets.
Newark has attracted $1.5 million in off-site improvements, $1.3 million in annual payments and $2 million in revenue from surrounding municipalities.
Newark offers a relocation incentive package to recycling industries, unique tax breaks and financial perks as an "Urban Enterprise Zone" and "Foreign Trade Zone."
The US Environmental Protection Agency is amplifying Newark's success by funding Recycling and Refuse Business Assistance and local staff positions as Recycling Economic Development Advocates.
Clearly Newark has been successful in aligning recycling as part of its core economic development strategy.
(* All data in this article in $US)
According to Newark Mayor Sharpe James, "it seems only appropriate that the City of Newark, which has won national recognition for its environment policies and programs, should become a mecca for the recycling industry."
Glass Works would like to dedicate this issue to Frank. As Chief of Research and Program Development, Frank was instrumental in making Planet Newark a reality. He had a vision for his community and recycling that was more than his job, it was a commitment to a higher quality of life.
Frank died January 8, 1996 due to complications from a car accident which caused an already stressed body fighting cancer to cease functioning. In preparation of this issue Frank kept contact from his hospital bed until the last piece of information was shared.
That's above the call of duty.
Copyright © 1996 Glass Works