Franklin Township has agreed to reinstitute its recycling program.

Resident Jill Renfrew asked supervisors on Tuesday about recycling since she initially broached the subject back in October.

Resident Tom Lawler said there hasn’t been any communication since on whether it was going forward and whether there were more people to join.

Board Chairman Jason Frey noted that the recycling the township had before was single stream.

Renfrew suggested it would be good to have a township supervisor be a contact.

Supervisor Fred Kemmerer Jr. agreed it would be good to have a point person.

“But understand, it’s an advisory (board),” Kemmerer said. “I would think three to five (people to serve on the committee) would be good.”

Afterward, the board then agreed to create a recycling committee of three individuals.

Those people appointed to the recycling committee were Renfrew, Lawler, and Jim Bestider, along with a township supervisor to be determined.

The point of contact person will then be appointed at the board’s reorganization meeting at 6:30 p.m. on Jan. 5.

Renfrew asked supervisors in October to consider bringing back recycling.

Renfrew said she understood that the service was abused in the past.

Kemmerer Jr. said he’s a proponent of recycling.

Kemmerer Jr. also said at that time the township is proud of its new salt shed and a new garbage truck.

Frey previously said it’s about finding that landfill or a place you can take the recycling that doesn’t run it to the landfill.

Kemmerer Jr. agreed with Frey, and added it’s about finding someone who will take items, such as glass and possibly cardboard.

In 2020, supervisors agreed to discontinue the township recycling center.

Then Supervisor Robin Cressley said that while closing the center wasn’t an easy decision, leaving it open wouldn’t be fiscally responsible.

Frey said couches and foosball tables had been placed in the bins at times.

Supervisors said the recycling bins were being contaminated with plastic bags and some garbage, and reminded township residents not to place any kind of plastic bags in the recycling dumpsters.

It was noted at that time that trash of any kind should not be placed in the recycling bins, as the township was charged an extra $2,000 at one point due to the bins being contaminated.

Frey said at that time the recycling bins were to be used by township residents, only after people had been coming from Towamensing, Mahoning and Penn Forest townships to drop their recyclables off.