ShopRite to Sell Borough Green Bags

residents who shop at the the in will soon be able to purchase green trash bags without making an extra stop.

The borough's Pay-As-You-Throw program requires residents to use particular trash bags in an effort to encourage recycling and minimal waste. The bags are a green color and cost $7.10 for a box of 15-gal. "small" bags and $13.60 for a box of 30-gal. "large" bags. Each box contains 10 bags.

Until now, the bags were only available at and .

"A lot of our customers [live] in the borough, and it was exclusive rights for borough retailers," Warren Pearce, the branch manager for the Chatham ShopRite, said. "A lot of our customers would ask us if we could sell them. I would say, 'Look, my hands are tied.'"

Pearce approached Robert Falzarano, the borough administrator, about selling the bags at ShopRite. Falzarano brought the matter before the Chatham Borough Council as a discussion item Monday, and the council approved ShopRite as a vendor for the bags.

"It's the same price if they buy it from us or someone else," Pearce said. He added his customers should not have to make a second stop after their groceries solely to purchase trash bags.

Besides the regular bags, borough residents can also purchase , the borough's waste management vendor. Boxes of these bags are available directly through B&B Disposal. Prices are $9.60 for the 15-gal. bags and $16.90 for the 30-gal. bags. Each box contains 10 bags. B&B Disposal may be contacted at (877) 465-4433.

Also at the meeting Monday:

• for the , following the township's appointment.
• Mayor Bruce Harris proclaimed Friday, Feb. 3 as National Wear Red Day for Women in Chatham Borough to increase awareness of cardiovascular disease. The proclamation reads in part "cardiovascular disease claims the lives of nearly 420,000 American females each year, approximately one death per minute ... [and] only 16 percent of women surveyed in 2009 identified cardiovascular disease as the greatest health problem facing them."
• Erin Klepper and Kate Murphy were appointed to the Green Initiatives Advisory Committee.
• John S. Dey was appointed to the Comminucation Technology Advisory Committee.
• Dr. Joseph Murphy and Janice Piccolo were appointed to the Mayor's Wellness Committee.
• Councilmen Len Resto and Victoria Fife were appointed to serve as the borough's representatives to the Joint Municipal Court Committee.
• Stan Serbanica was appointed as the 2012 Recycling Coordinator.
• Various recreation fees were refunded
• Various budget transfers were authorized totaling $9,034
• Bauer Automotive, , , Specialized Autocraft and were approved as authorized car towers; Bauer and DeFalco's were also approved as truck towers. All will be utilized on a rotating basis by the .
• Falzarano was appointed as Risk Manager for 2012. He was also appointed as commissioner for the Morris County Municipal Joint Insurance Fund (JIF), and Cathy Belli was appointed as alternate commissioner.
• A resolution approving a livery license for K.H.M Limousine Servivce, Inc. for 2012 was tabled, pending further investigation.