JERSEY SHORE – Several local towns have received Clean Communities Grants from the state that will be used to clear litter, making areas safer and nicer places to live.
The funding comes through the State Department of Environmental Protection. A total of $21.4 million is being distributed statewide, an increase of $700,000 over last year, Commissioner Shawn M. LaTourette said. The money is generated by a user fee on manufacturers, wholesalers, and distributers that produce litter-generating products.
The nonprofit New Jersey Clean Communities Council oversees the reporting requirements for the program.
Disbursements are based on housing units and miles of municipally owned roadways.
“Municipalities and counties are strongly encouraged to use these grants to organize volunteer cleanups, pay employees to pick up litter, purchase badly needed cleanup equipment and promote education activities and enforcement,” said JoAnn Gemenden, Executive Director of the New Jersey Clean Communities Council. “We are grateful for funding that helps keep New Jersey litter-free. We are proud to serve as an educational resource for communities, as we drive many of our campaigns to engage the younger generations to help mold positive, long-term anti-litter behaviors.”
Local towns and counties receiving grants include:
- Barnegat Light: $5,831
- Barnegat: $54,221
- Bay Head: $5,212
- Beach Haven: $12,589
- Beachwood: $23,090
- Berkeley: $133,439
- Brick: $170,308
- Eagleswood: 5,233
- Farmingdale: $4,000
- Freehold Boro: $20,468
- Freehold Twp: $82,159
- Harvey Cedars: $5,613
- Howell: $123,522
- Island Heights: $4,583
- Jackson: $119,285
- Lacey: $78,400
- Lakehurst: $5,037
- Lakewood: $145,844
- Lavallette: $12,418
- Little Egg Harbor: $57,785
- Long Beach Township: $41,491
- Manchester: $112,263
- Mantoloking: $4,000
- Ocean Gate: $4,204
- Pine Beach: $5,754
- Plumsted: $18,817
- Point Pleasant Beach: $15,431
- Point Pleasant: $42,752
- Seaside Heights: $10,435
- Seaside Park: $10,853
- Ship Bottom: $9,439
- South Toms River: $5,940
- Stafford: $81,400
- Surf City: $11,554
- Toms River: $227,480
- Tuckerton: $9,710
- Waretown: $24,026
- Monmouth County: $133,527
- Ocean County: $216,879
Activities funded by Clean Communities grants include volunteer litter cleanups, litter-related education, and cleanups of stormwater systems that lead into waterways. The money can also be used for adoption and enforcement of local anti-littering ordinances; beach cleanups; public information and education programs; purchases of litter collection equipment such as receptacles, recycling bins, anti-litter signs and graffiti removal supplies; and reusable bags to promote New Jersey’s single-use plastics law, the DEP said.
