(16/38) TRENTON – The Christie Administration is awarding a record $23.7 million in Clean Communities grants to help municipalities and counties conduct litter cleanup efforts to help beautify New Jersey’s communities and roadsides.

“Each New Jersey county is receiving Clean Communities money to help beautify their communities and protect natural resources,” said Department of Environmental Protection Commissioner Bob Martin. “Keeping our communities clean is just one way to improve the quality of life and build pride in our municipalities statewide.”

The DEP is awarding more than $21.1 million to eligible municipalities, and an additional $2.6 million to all 21 counties. Clean Communities grants to municipalities and counties in 2015 totaled $20.8 million.

“Simple initiatives such as litter control go a long way to making our communities healthier, stronger, and more sustainable,” said Mark Pedersen, Assistant Commissioner for Site Remediation and Waste Management. “This year’s increase in Clean Communities grants will allow New Jersey to continue fostering environmental stewardship at the local level as means to a more sustainable future."
 
As established by law, the nonprofit New Jersey Clean Communities Council oversees the reporting requirements for the program. 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 Council. “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) $494,289; Jersey City,  (Hudson County ) $456,609; Toms River (Ocean County) $257,441; Paterson (Passaic County) $221,250; Hamilton Township (Mercer County) $217,544; Edison Township (Middlesex County) $204,693; Elizabeth City (Union) $202,882; Woodbridge Township (Middlesex County)  $200,959; Brick Township (Ocean County) $195,190; Middletown (Monmouth County) $175,892; Cherry Hill (Camden County) $173,431; Trenton (Mercer County) $162,941; Clifton (Passaic County) $158,574; Vineland (Cumberland County) $152,185; Franklin Township (Somerset County); $150,740; Berkeley Township (Ocean County) $149,316; Camden (Camden County) $145,152; and Gloucester Township (Camden County) $143,342.

The counties receiving the largest grant awards are: Ocean, $244,853, Cumberland, $213,520, Burlington, $199,728, Bergen, $174,015 and Gloucester, $160,944.

Litter comes from a variety of sources, such as pedestrians, motorists, overflowing household garbage, construction sites and uncovered trucks. Litter is often blown by the wind until it is trapped somewhere, such as along a fence, or in a ditch or gully. People tend to litter when an area is already littered, and when they lack a sense of ownership or pride in their community. In addition to being unsightly, litter is unhealthy and may create a negative public image. 

Activities funded by Clean Communities 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 such as receptacles, recycling bins, anti-litter signs and graffiti removal supplies.

For a complete list of municipal and county grant awards, visit: http://www.njclean.org