Entering its 15th year, vendors at Hampton’s Recycle Rama event are once again preparing to collect electronics, scrap metal, bicycles and more from residents.
The popular event, which in the past has collected more than 50,000 pounds of electronic waste, is scheduled for May 13 from 9 a.m. to noon in the Hampton Community Park and Community Center parking lot.
“Recycle Rama is to help the community recycle items they might not think about recycling every day, or don’t have the opportunity to recycle every day,” said Amber Pucciarelli, a part-time manager for the township’s Department of Community Services. She coordinated the event alongside Melanie Martino, the parks and recreation programs administrator.
There are five areas of collection at the event. The first stop is Construction Junction, which accepts construction materials such as appliances or cabinets that are in “usable condition.” According to Construction Junction’s website, they will decline materials that are excessively dirty, water damaged or unsafe. They also aren’t accepting certain flooring and doors due to overstock.
The next stops are some of the most popular, according to Pucciarelli. Thrivent Community — Three Rivers is collecting used bikes in “repairable condition,” and JVS Environmental is collecting electronics. There is a limit of one television per car.
Because the electronics station specifically is so popular, Pucciarelli said community members must be patient and follow directions from police who are directing traffic.
People can also shred up to two 13-gallon bags of paper. The township also plans to put its glass recycling bin at the rear of the salt storage building and the soccer complex parking lot for the event.
During the event, some areas of the park, including the Alcoa Pavilion, will be blocked off. The Hampton Community Center will be closed until noon, and the township fields won’t open until the event ends.
“It’s a great opportunity to do a little bit of spring cleaning,” Pucciarelli said. “You can easily throw away so many items that can be reused by someone else … or recycled in general to help the environment.”
