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Cherry Hill eyes recycling program

The Cherry Hill Township Council is expected to approve on Monday a Green Action Plan that would use a reward system to encourage recycling, conservation and energy efficiency.

The Cherry Hill Township Council is expected to approve on Monday a Green Action Plan that would use a reward system to encourage recycling, conservation and energy efficiency.

As part of the program, proposed by Mayor Bernie Platt, residents would earn "RecycleBank dollars" based on the weight of their recycled material. The dollars would be redeemable in stores including Ikea and Staples.

Homeowners would be issued a wheeled recycling container embedded with a microchip that contains an online account number. Collection trucks equipped with computers would weigh each container and credit the household.

"I am confident that this recycling program will make Cherry Hill the number-one recycler in the state," Platt said. "On top of everything else, we will save approximately $2 million in landfill tipping fees and other expenses over the next five years by switching to RecycleBank."

In a trial run in 910 Cherry Hill homes, the RecycleBank program doubled recycling rates, the township said.

Platt said the township would launch its plan immediately after passage of the measure, beginning with energy audits and carbon-footprint calculations to establish baselines.

On Monday, the council also is expected to approve the first part of a plan to install solar panels on the roof of town hall. Up for a vote is a resolution to apply to the New Jersey Clean Energy Program for a $230,000 rebate to supplement funding of a 100-kilowatt solar-panel project.