Abbie and Katie Go to Woodbridge

Wednesday, October 2, was the start of our Woodbridge residential food waste recycling pilot. 

GWT's involvement with Woodbridge came about in 2012, when Woodbridge Township and the Green Technology Center ran a business green plan competition.  The prize was $7500 and consulting to the winner.  Woodbridge Business Plan Competition Link

The competition involved presenting a powerpoint slide show and 10-minute presentation to a panel of sustainable expert judges. 

Out of a field of seven presenters, GWT was honored and excited to be named the winner of the competition.  Business Plan Winner Link

Part of the condition of accepting the competition prize, was to do business in the town of Woodbridge.

We proposed a residential food waste recycling pilot in the town, using horses as the method of pickup.  After the Mayor John McCorman appoved the project, I met with Caroline Ehrlich, Woodbridge Chief of Staff, Deputy Police Director Joseph Nisky, and Dennis Henry of Public Works to discuss the details.  The neighborhood picked for the pilot is in the Iselin area around the Iselin Middle School and JFK High School.  We would store the wagon and bring the horses to the Indiana Elentary School #18 parking lot. 

The target neighborhood for the Woodbridge Residential Food Waste Recycling Pilot

Since yesterday was our first trip with the horses and the neighborhood, the township assigned Detective Joelle Slossberg, from the Community Affairs Division, to go out with us.

Officer Slossberg met us at the school parking lot.  We unloaded the girls, got them harnessed.



Abbie and Katie gettng ready with Officer Slossberg looking on

Next the girls get hitched to the wagon.

Marc hitching the girls

We gave out 100+ postcards to residents, talked to a lot of people.



Working the Streets of Woodbridge

Meeting new people

 

Saying hello to Woodbridge residents

We'll be doing food waste pickups on Wednesdays and Sundays in Woodbridge.  Our first official pickup will be next Wednesday, October 9.  We already have signups, and will deliver buckets over the weekend.

We also are discussing doing a Food Recycle Day at the Indiana Elementary School #18, as well as a presentation to the elementary school students on horses and our project, with the School Principal Sharon McGreevey.