(26/P21) TRENTON – The Sherrill Administration today announced the award of $25.2 million in annual Clean Communities grants to municipalities and counties for local litter removal programs that help keep trash out of the environment and beautify New Jersey’s communities.
The awards were announced at an event hosted by the New Jersey Clean Communities Council at Kean University’s Liberty Hall in Union Township, Union County. Grant recipients will use the funding to educate the public about the environmental harms of littering, set up volunteer litter cleanups, acquire litter removal equipment, clear litter and debris from stormwater drains, remove graffiti, and support enforcement of local litter laws.
“Nobody likes to see trash-filled roads, rivers, or parks,” said Acting DEP Commissioner Ed Potosnak. “By partnering with the Clean Communities Council to provide this critical funding, the DEP is ensuring that municipalities and counties can keep their communities healthy and clean without bearing the costs of these initiatives alone.”
The DEP is awarding a total of $22.4 million to eligible municipalities and $2.8 million to counties across the state. The awards are funded by taxes collected from businesses that produce litter-generating products and penalties paid for litter-related violations. The grant awards are prescribed by state law and are based on population, housing units and miles of municipally owned roadways.
The New Jersey Clean Communities Council
The program is overseen by the New Jersey Clean Communities Council, which manages reporting requirements for the litter abatement programs in 558 municipalities and 21 counties. The Council is a statewide, comprehensive, litter-abatement program that grew out of the passage of the state’s Clean Communities Act of 1986.
“The New Jersey Clean Communities Council is incredibly honored to continue our partnership with NJDEP to advance litter education and cleanup initiatives across the state,” said Council Executive Director JoAnn Gemenden. “Today marks the fourth anniversary of New Jersey’s single-use plastics law – a shining example of the state’s environmental leadership. Together we’ve made great strides in drastically reducing single-use plastic bags from littering our roadways and waterways, serving as a national example of how smart state policy can directly combat litter. This year’s Clean Communities funding will continue to help local governments keep their communities cleaner, greener and prouder.”
The Clean Communities Council also administers the Adopt-a-Highway and Adopt-a-Beach volunteer programs to support groups, organizations, businesses or individuals seeking to organize trash cleanups at specific public locations.
This year, the Council is partnering with Keep America Beautiful to engage with New Jersey mayors across the state by encouraging them to sign pledges to join the organization’s Greatest American Cleanup in honor of America’s 250th anniversary.
Municipalities Receiving Grants Over $100,000
- Atlantic County: Egg Harbor Township, $130,167; Galloway Township, $108,916; Atlantic City, $101,602.
- Burlington County: Evesham Township, $119,852; Mount Laurel, $107,693.
- Camden County: Cherry Hill, $182,922; Gloucester Township, $151,911; Camden, $145,202; Winslow Township, $103,052.
- Cape May County: Ocean City, $110,682.
- Cumberland County: Vineland $160,664.
- Essex County: Newark, $533,511; East Orange, $134,036; Irvington, $109,304; Bloomfield Township, $103,161.
- Gloucester County: Washington Township, $113,594.
- Hudson County: Jersey City, $544,337; Bayonne, $131,530; Hoboken, $119,453; Union City, $109,397; North Bergen, $107,875.
- Mercer County: Hamilton, $228,965; Trenton, $170,733.
- Middlesex County: Edison, $217,300; Woodbridge, $212,949; Old Bridge, $146,114; Monroe Township, $123,753; Piscataway, $121,525; East Brunswick, $118,417; South Brunswick, $105,667.
- Monmouth County: Middletown, $185,012; Howell, $145,251; Marlboro Township, $112,185; Manalapan, $102,828.
- Morris County: Parsippany-Troy Hills, $133,975.
- Ocean County: Toms River, $267,494; Brick, $200,263; Lakewood, $171,493; Berkeley, $156,911; Jackson, $140,268; Manchester, $132,007.
- Passaic County: Paterson, $242,907; Clifton, $166,411; Wayne, $126,715.
- Somerset County: Franklin, $166,379; Bridgewater, $118,090; Hillsborough Township, $116,317.
- Union County: Elizabeth, $217,109; Union Township, $114,878.
County Grant Awards
Atlantic, $153,815; Bergen, $182,891; Burlington, $208,400; Camden, $164,105; Cape May, $87,596; Cumberland, $223,293; Essex, $88,736; Gloucester, $171,307; Hudson, $23,098; Hunterdon, $100,722; Mercer, $73,889; Middlesex, $130,291; Monmouth, $156,865; Morris, $118,239; Ocean, $254,692; Passaic, $101,942; Salem, $148,677; Somerset, $103,111. Sussex, $129,765; Union, $74,516; Warren, $108,267.
To find the complete list of municipal awards, visit njclean.org/coordinators/grant-funding.
DEP PHOTO: NJ Clean Communities grantee receives presentation check during awards ceremony at Kean University’s Liberty Hall in Union Township, Union County.
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