DEP MAKES
FUNDING AVAILABLE TO COUNTIES AND
TOWNS FOR TIRE CLEANUPS
(05/22) TRENTON -- Trenton-Department of Environmental
Protection (DEP) Commissioner Bradley M. Campbell today announced
$2.2 million in grants to 16 counties and towns to clean up scrap
tire piles and run tire collection programs that reduce public
health threats from West Nile virus and hazardous fires.
"The grants will help local officials clean up tire piles
to rid their towns of these unsightly hazards and improve public
safety," said Acting Governor Richard J. Codey.
The 16 grants awarded range in amounts from $25,000 to $300,000.
"Cleaning up these piles, which create prime mosquito breeding
grounds, is one of our strongest defenses in combating West Nile
virus," said Commissioner Campbell. "Theses grants will
help clear tire piles across the state that present environmental
and health hazards to communities."
DEP awarded the grants to counties and municipalities on a competitive
basis for the proper cleanup of abandoned tire piles. In order
to fund as many complete tire pile cleanup projects as possible,
a cap of $300,000 per applicant was used.
The approved projects range from sites with more than 20,000
tires to sites with smaller piles. It also includes funding for
some county and local tire drop-off programs. Tire pile cleanups
conducted on property that has been or will be acquired by a public
agency received a priority ranking since these lands must be used
for open space preservation. Grant funds cannot be used to clean
up tires on any land currently in commercial use.
Discarded tires when allowed to accumulate even minimal amounts
of water have the potential of becoming breeding grounds for mosquitos.
West Nile virus is a mosquito-borne disease that can cause encephalitis,
an infection that causes inflammation of the brain. People can
become infected with the virus after being bitten by an infected
mosquito.
Tire piles also have the potential to catch fire, creating an
environmental threat through the release of hazardous air pollutants
and potential soil contamination in the surrounding area. In 1990,
there was a large fire at a tire pile site in Tabernacle that
involved an estimated 200,000 tires.
County and municipal officials applied to DEP in December for
funding to address tire pile sites in their area. DEP urges residents
to report tire dumping to its environmental hotline at 877-WARNDEP
(927-6337).
A list of counties and towns that received funding appears below:
LOCAL TIRE MANAGEMENT PROGRAM GRANTS
APPLICANT |
AMOUNT AWARDED |
OWNERSHIP OF LAND |
Bergen Co |
$40,000.00 |
N/A |
Burlington Co |
$300,000.00 |
Foster Farm |
Cape May Co |
$65,000.00 |
Various/Public |
East Amwell Twp |
$283,000.00 |
Meszaros |
Essex Co |
$37,130.12 |
Various/Public |
Franklin Twp |
$300,000.00 |
Mr. Conquest |
Gloucester Co |
$30,000.00 |
N/A |
Hunterdon Co |
$25,000.00 |
Various |
Mercer Co |
$30,000.00 |
Tire recycling Program |
Middlesex Co |
$93,890.00 |
Various/Public |
Millville City |
$25,979.88 |
Millville |
Morris Co |
$30,000.00 |
Various/Public |
Mullica Twp |
$300,000.00 |
Perona |
Ocean Co |
$300,000.00 |
Gilbert Farm |
Salem Co |
$300,000.00 |
Brown/Gates |
Warren Co |
$40,000.00 |
Tire Recycling Program |
Total |
$2,200,000.00
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