(15/P44) TRENTON – The Christie Administration today announced the award of $20.8 million in Clean Communities grants to help municipalities and counties conduct litter cleanup efforts that help beautify New Jersey’s communities and roadsides.

“These grants are important because they help beautify our communities, protect our natural resources and enhance our quality of life,” said Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Commissioner Bob Martin. “A litter-free environment helps build pride in municipalities throughout the state.”

The DEP is awarding more than $18.4 million to eligible municipalities, and an additional $2.3 million is being awarded to all 21 counties.

“Our counties and municipalities are strong environmental stewards. Their continued commitment to implement litter removal programs makes our state a better place to live and work,” said Jane Herndon, Assistant Commissioner for Environmental Management

As established by law, the nonprofit New Jersey Clean Communities oversees the reporting requirements for the program. The grants are funded by a legislated user-fee on manufacturers, wholesalers and distributors that produce litter-generating products. Disbursements to municipalities are based on the number of housing units and miles of municipally owned roadways within each municipality. 

“We are thrilled that funding for communities has increased this year,” said Sandy Huber, Executive Director of New Jersey Clean Communities. “Municipalities and counties will use it wisely to pay for volunteer and paid cleanups, badly needed equipment purchases, enforcement activities, and education. We are grateful for funding that helps keep New Jersey clean.”

Municipalities receiving the largest grants are:

Newark, (Essex County) $432,292; Jersey City,  (Hudson County ) $399,518; Toms River (Ocean County) $225,147; Paterson (Passaic County) $193,565; Hamilton Township (Mercer County) $191,186; Edison Township (Middlesex County) $180,029; Elizabeth City (Union) 177,560; Woodbridge Township (Middlesex County)  $176,297; Brick Township (Ocean County) $170,736; Middletown (Monmouth County) $153,823; Cherry Hill (Camden County) $151,689; Trenton (Mercer County) $142,424; Clifton (Passaic County) $138,704; Vineland (Cumberland County) $133,095; Franklin Township (Somerset County); $131,841; Berkeley Township (Ocean County) $130,593; Camden (Camden County) $127,058; and Gloucester Township (Camden County) $125,365.
The counties receiving the largest grant awards are: Ocean, $215,382, Cumberland, $187,817, Burlington, $175,657, Bergen, $144,519 and Gloucester, $141,562.

Litter comes from pedestrians, motorists, overflowing household garbage, construction sites and uncovered trucks, and is often blown by the wind until it is trapped somewhere, as along a fence or in a ditch or gully. People tend to litter when an area is already littered, and when they do not feel a sense of ownership or community pride. In addition to being unsightly, litter is unhealthy and may create a negative public image. 

Activities funded by the grants include cleanups of stormwater systems that can disperse trash into streams, rivers and bays; volunteer cleanups of public properties; adoption and enforcement of local anti-littering ordinances; beach cleanups; public information and education programs; and purchases of litter collection equipment, litter receptacles, recycling bins, anti-litter signs and supplies to remove graffiti.

For a complete list of municipal and county grant awards, visit: http://www.njclean.org/CCPDist15-Press-Release.pdf