DEP Awards Municipalities $90,000 in Recycling Grants

TRENTON –– Municipalities in this county were awarded nearly $90,000 in recycling grants from the state Department of Environmental Protection (DEP).
Nearly $4.2 million was distributed statewide.
DEP Commissioner Lisa Jackson made the announcement Sept. 28 remarking on the importance of local recycling efforts.
“Recycling remains one of the best hands-on ways for individuals to protect their environment,” she said.
Awards were based on 2005 municipal recycling statistics. Towns with larger amounts of recycled material received larger grants.
Middle Township’s recycling program received the highest award in the county, $21,424, followed closely by Upper Township at $19,088.
Administrator James Alexis said Middle Township would probably set aside the money for educational programs and to subsidize the cost of recycling containers it distributes to residents.
The city of Newark, the state’s largest with a population over 280,000, received the largest statewide grant, $82,658.
Other local municipalities receiving grants included:
Avalon, $3,112; Cape May, $3,911; Cape May Point, $310; Dennis, $3,576; Lower, $9,474; North Wildwood, $3,707; Ocean City, $10,924; Stone Harbor, $1,606; West Cape May, $3,043; West Wildwood, $270; Wildwood, $4,580; Wildwood Crest, $3,039; and Woodbine, $1,515.
Sea Isle City did not receive a grant. According to the DEP, municipalities that have not filed a resolution and/or a recycling tonnage report are not eligible to receive an award.
In 2005, Cape May County had the third highest percentage of recycled material, 59.5 percent, compared to the state’s other 20 counties. Only Middlesex, 62.3 percent, and Cumberland, 61 percent, had higher scores.
Of the county’s total generation of 598,194 tons of material, it recycled 355,661 tons and disposed of 242,532 tons.
Contact Hart at (609) 886-8600 Ext 35 or at: jhart@cmcherald.com