All homes in Buena Vista Township over the next couple of days will be receiving a 96-gallon rolling recycling container to mix all of your recyclables together in one container.  Delivery of the new containers is expected to be completed by the end of the week (May 13th) and will be handled through the ACUA.

Containers will have a microchip imbedded in them to track their location if stolen.  The containers are being purchased by Buena Vista Township and are property of the Township.

The goal is to increase recycling participation to a new level which will help to reduce our trash collection costs.  Trash costs more to get rid of than recyclables.

The Township purchased the recycling containers on a 5-year plan through the ACUA to be able to provide every home a container at the same time. The ACUA has a list of homes that have already purchased the ACUA blue 96-gallon recycling container from them.

Those homes will receive a 96-gallon ACUA rolling trash container in place of the recycling container.  No other substitutions or exceptions will be made.  The containers cost the Township $48.62 each instead of the normal $65.00 each.

Those residents who have already purchased this container through the ACUA will be given a new 96-gallon ACUA trash container instead of a recycling container. This way, every home gets a new container from Buena Vista Township and the ACUA. (Recycling containers purchased elsewhere do not count and cannot be substituted.) 

Any older blue recycling containers can also still be used along with the new 96-gallon container.  Remember, “Single Stream” recycling allows everything to be mixed together in one container that will be sorted later by the ACUA at their facility in Egg Harbor Township.

Mayor Chuck Chiarello who is a member of the Executive Board for the New Jersey Conference of Mayors has contributed an article in the second issue related to Economic Stability.

With an article titled “Economic Stability Starts at Home” Buena Vista has taken new initiatives in Difficult times. Buena Vista has taken great strides in not only maintaining ratables, but also has encouraged new commercial development and a business friendly environment.

To learn more about Buena Vista’s initiative Click HERE to view the Mayor’s article in the New Jersey Conference of Mayor’s Magazine.

The article is written by Mayor Chuck Chiarello and published by the New Jersey Conference of Mayors.

Eighth grade students from the Buena Regional Middle School formed an Honorary Township Committee along with Honorary Department Heads on Monday, April 18^th.

The students spent the day at Buena Vista touring our Municipal Building and most of our facilities including Michael Debbi Park, Public Works Department and the King Center.  The students then appeared at our televised Township Committee meeting on Monday, April 25^th where they were sworn into office for the day and participated along with the Township Committee during that evening.

The Honorary Township Committee Program was started many years ago at the Cleary Middle School and was handled by Mr. Abate.  The program ran successfully for many years but was not continued after Mr. Abate retired.   Mayor Chuck Chiarello requested that the program be restarted through the new Buena Regional Middle School when it was first opened, but to no avail.

In 2015, Committeeman John Armato became the Municipal Liaison to the school district and was able to get the program restarted with this year’s  8^th Grade Class through the help of the Superintendent, School Board and the Principal of the Middle School.

This year’s program was a true success. Thanks to all the students that participated.  The honorary student members were:  TJ Cheli, Mayor; Aliyah White, Deputy Mayor; Victoria DeRossi, Township Committee/Reporter; Louis Flannery, Township Committee; Travis Welsford, Township Committee; Sierra Gonzalez, CMFO/Administrator; Hannah Lawless, Township Clerk; Franchesca Hansen, Tax Collector; Antonina Benson, Tax Assessor; Byron Spellman, Director of Public Works.

FREE reusable bags coming soon to the Independence Day Festival on Sunday, July 3, 2016. Check out the BVT Green Team table for a reusable bag and other great items. Bags available to the first 200 people who claim them.

Green Tip of the Week:

Plastic bag litter is a growing problem. Just look around and you are sure to see plastic bags hanging from the trees, stuck in storm drains, nestled in shrubs, and floating in waterways. The bags are responsible every year for the deaths of many birds, land animals and marine mammals. They can take from 15 to 1000 years to decompose.  In addition: Plastic is petroleum-base, so the more bags that are made, the more oil is wasted. The bags are photo-degradable, so if left out in the open, they break down into smaller, more toxic petro-polymers.* (CNN.com)

We can all do our part to reduce the plastic bag problem. The easiest solution is to carry reusable bags in your car at all times. These bags have become very prevalent and available for a small fee at most grocery stores and “big box” stores (Target, Lowes, etc.). These bags are not only sturdier than plastic bags but they also hold more! And some stores will give a small discount if you have your own bags. If you do accumulate plastic bags, please recycle them. Many supermarkets in the area have bins for recycling. But the best rule to follow is to reduce first, reuse second and then recycle.

This tip is courtesy of the Green Team in BVT.  For more information call the Township Clerk’s Office at 856-697-2100 or email info@buenavistanj.com.

To be part of the BVT Green Team please contact Committeeman John Williams at (609) 513-7318 or email: jwilliams@buenavistanj.com.

Members of the Richland Volunteer Fire Company and Collings Lakes Volunteer Fire Company were presented plaques by Township Committeemen John Williams and Steve Martinelli at our televised Township Meeting on Monday, March 28^th.

The Hero’s Awards were given in recognition of their outstanding search and recovery work during an incident at Pancoast Mill Pond on Thursday night, March 3^rd.

Our brave volunteers using boats rescued two hunters that had gotten stuck in water up to their waists.  Cell phone pings helped obtain the location of the hunters.  A New Jersey State Police helicopter scanned the woods and located the men using a beam of light which led the rescuers to their location in the dense woods.

They were found in good health.  Other fire companies, rescue squads, and canine units were called in to assist.  We are so proud of our local volunteers!

Buena Vista Township recently partnered with “Tobacco Free NJ” and adopted Ordinance 18-2016 which provides for a Smoke-Free environment in public buildings and public parks.

Buena Vista Township believes that the general health and well-being of its residents and children are top priority. Buena Vista recognizes the well-known health and safety risks posed by smoking and has found it is within the public’s interest to prohibit smoking in public buildings and on public properties such as parks and recreation areas as well as in any Township Vehicle.

Buena Vista Township believes this is a self-enforcing ordinance where members of the public will see the signs in the parks and know that public health is extremely important in Buena Vista.

Check out the new signs coming to a park near you!

CLICK HERE for Smoke Free Ordinance.