May 23, 2012 THE VILLADOM TIMES I • Page 9 Wyckoff New recycling bins offer $43,300 tax break by John Koster Wyckoff will realize a $43,300 tax benefit over the next two years as the recycling bins now installed or authorized kick back some of their proceeds to the local tax coffers, according to Wyckoff Township Committeeman Kevin Rooney. “I’m very proud to have worked on this and I’m very proud of the hard and efficient work that (Wyckoff Township Administrator) Bob Shannon and (Department of Public Works Superintendent) Scott Fisher put in working on it with me,” Rooney said last week. Rooney said that, in looking for ways to help with the municipal tax burden, he had investigated an offer to have bins installed for quality recycled goods in Wyckoff, and to receive rent from the recycling companies. Rooney proposed the recycling bin program while working on the new municipal budget as chairman of the Finance Committee. Shannon and Fisher joined him in implementing the plan so the bins would be useful, but not objectionable. The guaranteed rental income from the five bins will reach $43,300 on the two-year contract now in force. Township officials invite residents to take advantage of the bins to reduce flow to the waste stream and to justify and continue the rental income, which goes toward local property tax relief. The two bins at Scott Plaza, behind Wyckoff Town Hall and between firehouse # 1 and the ambulance corps building, will directly benefit the fire department and the ambulance corps with future equipment purchases. The fire department bin is painted red and includes the universal fire department symbol, while the ambulance corps bin is painted white and includes the universal first aid symbol. The clothing and shoes donated in these bins will produce revenue to defray the cost of statemandated safety equipment for the volunteer groups. A second bin painted with the universal fire department symbol is located at Wyckoff Fire Company #2 at 180 Wyckoff Avenue. Proceeds from items donated at this bin will also be used to purchase statemandated safety equipment. The Wyckoff Recycling and Conservation Center at 476 Main Street also has two bins where clothing and shoes may be dropped off. Rental fees on these bins will also defray the expenses of municipal government operations. “One of the ways that the township can obtain additional revenue is by recycling, and this also helps take materials that can be recycled out of the waste stream,” Rooney added. The Wyckoff Recycling Center is open from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturdays and on Tuesday evenings from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m. through Sept. 30. Residents may now bring their shoes and clothing to recycle in the new bins. The township also accepts sectioned branches, grass clippings, and household recyclables. Wyckoff’s Nifty Fifty policy urges residents to recycle as much as possible through home mulching and composting, the use of durable shopping bags, and the donation of electronic equipment that might have a future elsewhere. The Wyckoff Board of Education has hired a new teacher and a translator, and has moved Eisenhower Middle School Principal Stephen Raimo to a new administrative position. Raimo will be serving as director of planning, research, and evaluation of the K8 school system at a salary of $139,959 from the end of this school year to the end of next school year. Jigisha Vyas has been hired as a first Board hires personnel, changes Raimo’s position grade teacher at the Coolidge School at a salary of $54,166. Vyas holds an MA and has been hired at step two of the teacher’s scale, pending clearance of documents. The board hired Susie Chang to provide translating and interpreting services at a rate of $70 an hour for a maximum of 10 hours a week pending clearance of documents. J. KOSTER