County, Municipalities Split Funds With Goal of Clean Communities

TRENTON – The Christie Administration is awarding $20.2 million in annual Clean Communities grants to help municipalities and counties conduct litter cleanups to beautify New Jersey’s communities and roadsides. 
The DEP is awarding more than $17.9 million to eligible municipalities, and more than $2.2 million to the state’s 21 counties, according to a release.
Cape May County will receive $67,743; its 16 municipalities will receive a total $481,536.
The following is what each municipality will get, to the nearest dollar:
Avalon, $25,596; Cape May, $18,944; Cape May Point, $4,000; Dennis Township, $22,174; Lower Township, $77,032; Middle Township, $53,733; North Wildwood, $35,625; Ocean City, $92,667.
Sea Isle City, $28,187; Stone Harbor, $15,237; Upper Township, $37,904; West Cape May, $5,352; West Wildwood, $4,000; Wildwood, $28,569; Wildwood Crest, $24,532; Woodbine, $7,992
“Clean Communities money is a vital resource for New Jersey’s municipalities and counties every year because these grants help fund cleanups that will further enhance our communities, natural resources and roadways,” stated Department of Environmental Protection Commissioner Bob Martin. “By taking care of the environment around us, we encourage others to do the same in their own communities and build pride across the state.”
“Simple programs such as litter control do a lot for improving New Jersey’s communities, in terms of public health and quality of life,” stated Mark Pedersen, assistant commissioner for Site Remediation and Waste Management. “This year’s Clean Communities grants will allow us to continue fostering environmental stewardship at the local level and help our communities to be more sustainable.”
As required 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.