TOMS RIVER – The township received a $210,009 grant to pay for clean-ups through the Clean Communities Program.
The money will be used to pay the salaries of three Clean Communities employees, municipal officials said. Two of them are full time and one is part time.
The money will also be used for projects such as: cleanups of stormwater systems that can disperse trash into waterways; volunteer cleanups of public properties; 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.
There is also an educational component. The Public Works Department offers tours, and part of the tour is teaching young kids how to reduce the amount of litter their households produce. “Tom the Duck” performs an educational puppet show 1st and 2nd grade students in Toms River.
Volunteers are welcome to register with DPW to “Adopt-a-Highway” or “Adopt-a-Spot,” keeping those specific areas clean. These programs have removed more than 30 cubic yards of debris from the Township’s public lands, roadsides and beaches.
“Toms River Township prides itself on being a clean, welcoming community. We have a variety of activities and programs led by our Department of Public Works staff that help keep our neighborhoods, waterways and public spaces clean. This year’s Clean Communities grant will go a long way in supporting those efforts,” said Mayor Maurice B. Hill.
The grant is funded by a state user fee on manufacturers, wholesalers and distributors that produce products that generate litter. 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. Toms River’s grant was the third highest in the state. Only Newark and Jersey City got more.
“We continue to enjoy a great partnership with NJ Clean Communities. The Toms River Clean Communities program continues to be among the top participants in the state. In addition to maintaining the cleanliness of public roadways, we have expanded to include a waterborne and sedge island debris removal program through the use of our Clean Communities boat, which was purchased directly through the Clean Communities grant,” said Lou Amoruso, director of Public Works.
