Recycling Center Dedicated as "John Sweeney Recycling Center"

Above, left to right: Fran Sweeney (John’s son); Mayor Madden; Kay May (John’s daughter); and Melanie May (John’s granddaughter).

At this week’s Mayor & Council Meeting, our Borough Recycling Center was dedicated as the John Sweeney Recycling Center.

John Sweeney served the Borough of Middlesex from 1972 to 2021 in various capacities as a Life Member of the Rescue Squad, Volunteer Recycling Coordinator, Mayor’s Liaison to the Green Brook Flood Control Commission, Member of the Joint Land Use Board and also as a Council Member.

Mr. Sweeney began the Recycling Program in Middlesex Borough in the early 1980’s when he met with the late Mayor Dobies and got the program up and running by getting a donation of 6 drums for the center and once they were filled he would transport them to the recycling substation in Piscataway. As the years went by, the Recycling Center became self-sustaining and the Borough purchased a recycling truck for curbside pickup, which was done by the Borough DPW employees.

John Sweeney became the unofficial Recycling Coordinator for the Borough as a volunteer, and once retired became the Recycling Coordinator for Middlesex County, and Middlesex Borough became a model for other municipalities to start their own Recycling Centers and curbside pickup.

Read the full Proclamation below.