City of South Amboy Will Receive $13,246.59 from this Fund.

Program Funds Litter Cleanups That Build Civic Pride

–News Release 5/21/14–

TRENTON –The Christie Administration today announced the award of more than $17 million in Clean Communities grants to help municipalities and counties conduct litter cleanup efforts that help beautify New Jersey’s communities and roadsides.

“This money is used for cleanup efforts that show the Christie Administration’s commitment to protecting our natural resources, enhancing our quality of life and building pride in our cities and towns across the state,” said Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Commissioner Bob Martin.

The DEP is awarding a total of $17.1 million, including $15.2 million to 559 eligible municipalities. Seven municipalities are not eligible because they have fewer than 200 housing units. An additional $1.9 million is being awarded to all 21 counties.

“Many of the largest grants are going to urban cities,” said Jane Kozinski, Assistant Commissioner for Environmental Management. “These grants build civic pride and enable our cities, towns and counties to move ahead with programs that remove litter from our neighborhoods and along our roads and highways, making our state a better place to live and work.”

As established by law, the nonprofit New Jersey Clean Communities oversees the reporting requirements for the program. The 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.

“New Jersey Clean Communities is a grassroots, community-driven litter abatement program that depends on funding disbursed to towns and counties every year,” said Sandy Huber, the group’s executive director.  “Money used for cleanup, enforcement and education related to litter abatement helps relieve strained municipal budgets, creates employment and promotes volunteerism. We are grateful for the funding and proud of three decades of success in sustaining a reduction in litter statewide.”

Litter comes from pedestrians, motorists, overflowing household garbage, construction sites and uncovered trucks, and is often blown by the wind until it is trapped somewhere, as along a fence or in a ditch or gully.  People tend to litter when an area is already littered, and when they do not feel a sense of ownership or community pride. In addition to being unsightly, litter unhealthy may create a negative public image.

Activities funded by the 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, litter receptacles, recycling bins, anti-litter signs and supplies to remove graffiti.

For lists of municipal and county grant awards, visit:
http://www.nj.gov/dep/docs/ccg-muni-2014.pdf and http://www.nj.gov/dep/docs/ccg-county-2014.pdf