(12/P18) TRENTON - The Department of Environmental Protection today announced $5.5 million in grants to all 21 of New Jersey’s counties to help them enhance local recycling efforts, a key environmental priority of the Christie Administration.

“Recycling remains one of our top priorities,” DEP Commissioner Bob Martin said. “We are quickly approaching the 25th anniversary of the Mandatory Source Separation and Recycling Act, the landmark law that made New Jersey the first state to require recycling.’’

“We are working hard to find ways to improve recycling rates and re-energize recycling efforts across all sectors of our state. These Recycling Enhancement Act grants are an important part of this effort,” Commissioner Martin added.

County agencies use the grant money for a variety of activities, including public education, purchases of recycling containers, e-waste collection and education programs, household hazardous waste and scrap tire collection programs, inspections, and mini-grants to municipalities.

Some of the counties must still file work plans and budgets to receive final DEP approval for grant awards. The following is a grant eligibility breakdown by county agency:

Atlantic County Utilities Authority, $210,100; Bergen County Utilities Authority, $551,100; Burlington County Department of Solid Waste, $298,100; Camden County Division of Environmental Affairs, $325,600; Cape May County Municipal Utilities Authority, $110,000; Cumberland County Improvement Authority, $110,000; Essex County Utilities Authority, $430,100; Gloucester County Improvement Authority, $166,100;

Hudson County Improvement Authority, $336,600; Hunterdon County Utilities Authority, $110,000; Mercer County Improvement Authority, $210,100; Middlesex County Division of Solid Waste Management,  $485,100; Monmouth County Planning Board, $386,100; Morris County Municipal Utilities Authority, $259,600; Ocean County Department of Solid Waste Management, $347,600;

Passaic County Recycling and Natural Resource Programs, $336,600; Salem County Improvement Authority, $110,000; Somerset County Solid Waste Management, $199,100; Sussex County Municipal Utilities Authority, $110,000; Union County Department of Engineering, Public Works and Facilities, $298,100; Warren County Planning Department, $110,000;