DATE: April 28, 2010 TO: Raritan Borough Residents FROM: Department of Public Works RE: Grass Clippings As of May 10, 2010, the Raritan Borough Public Works Department will no longer be picking up grass with regular trash or bulk refuse pick-up. Instead grass will have to be brought to the Public Works garage located behind the Raritan Golf Range located off Orlando Drive on Saturdays beginning May 15th (to October 30th,) rain or shine, between the hours of 10:00 am to 2:00 pm. Proof of residence is required. No contractors will be allowed to dispose of grass. Once at the garage, the public works employee will dump your bag or can into our garbage truck. On Mondays, we will take the grass to a compost site to dispose of it. We are taking this action for two reasons: The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection doesn’t want the grass put into the landfills because the nitrogen found in grass will mix with other chemicals found in the land fill and eventually find its way into the water table polluting it. Second, by composting it, the Borough will no longer be paying the $81.00 a ton cost to dump it at the transfer station. Instead it would cost us $18.00 a yard to dump and will save the Borough when all costs are compared. This is not only good for the environment, but is cost effective. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Public Works at (908) 725-1715 between the hours of 7:00 am to 3:30 pm. Thank you, Department of Public Works