DEP Awards Berkeley A $136K Litter Cleanup Grant

BERKELEY, N.J. — The Department of Environmental Protection awarded Berkeley Township a $136,028 Clean Communities grant. The grant helps communities conduct litter cleanups and improve quality of life.

The DEP awarded $19.1 million to eligible municipalities and $2.4 million to New Jersey's 21 counties. The New Jersey Clean Communities Council oversees eligibility requirements, which are based on housing units and miles of municipally owned roadways.

The Township will use a portion of the grant to offset salaries of employees who clean and maintain parks and breach, said Mayor Carmen F. Amato. Mini0grants will also fund local nonprofit civic and community groups hoping to take advantage of Berkeley's "Adopt a Spot" and "Adopt a Road" programs.

"Adopt a Spot" or "Adopt a Road" locations must be pre-approved through an application process. Organizations will be limited to a maximum of two at separate locations.

"This is an effort to accommodate as many local groups and locations as possible and to ensure funds are available for the group." Amato said.

If the Township has leftover funding, groups can reapply. Any group that signs up for the "Adopt a Spot" or "Adopt a Road" projects can receive $500 for their organization. Any nonprofit organizations in Berkeley that want to participate in the program, should call Public Works at 732-341-1022.

Some of the funds will support cleanup efforts for streets along maritime areas, where remnants of Superstorm Sandy remain, Amato said.

Municipalities and counties are strongly encouraged to use the grants for volunteer and paid cleanups, equipment purchases, enforcement activities and education, according to Sandy Huber, Executive Director of New Jersey Clean Communities Council.

Manufacturers, wholesalers and distributors that produce litter-generating products from the Clean Communities program through a legislated user fee.

Ocean County received the largest grant of any county at $218,091. Other Ocean County municipalities receiving grants include Toms River ($232,913), Brick ($176,879), Lakewood ($124,763), Jackson ($119,496) and Manchester ($114,851).

Activities funded through Clean Communities 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 such as receptacles, recycling bins, anti-litter signs and graffiti removal supplies.

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