Galloway to Receive Over $50,000 to Help Recycling Efforts

Galloway Township will receive over $50,000 in grant money to aid the township's recycling efforts, Department of Environmental Protection Commissioner Bob Martin announced on Monday, Oct. 22.

The money is part of more than $406,000 in state grants provided to the Atlantic County Utilities Authority (ACUA) and the municipalities in the county, Martin said.

Among municipalities, Galloway will receive the highest amount of money, at $51,801, according to Martin. The ACUA will receive $84,078. Atlantic City was right behind Galloway with $51,666.

The other municipalities will receive grant money as follows: Absecon, $9,817; Brigantine, $15,137; Buena, $5,300; Buena Vista, $9,424; Corbin City, $655; Egg Harbor City, $5,172; Egg Harbor Township, $47,482; Folsom, $2,600; Hammonton, $35,957; Linwood, $8,412; Longport, $1,831; Margate, $9,442; Mullica, $5,530; Northfield, $9,168; Pleasantville, $23,041; Port Republic, $1,548; Somers Point, $11,636; Ventnor, $14,374; and Weymouth, $2,277.

The funds are provided through the Recycling Enhancement Act, which significantly increased recycling tonnage grants the DEP is able to distribute to almost all of the state’s cities and towns, Martin said. Throughout the state, municipalities will receive $13.1 million in grants. 

“Recycling is a high priority of the Christie Administration because it improves our environment while also creating tangible economic benefits for municipalities,’’ Martin said in a release. “As we observe the 25^th anniversary of the state’s Mandatory Recycling Act this year, a landmark law that made New Jersey the first state to require recycling, we are making a call to  action across the state for everyone to renew their commitment to recycle.’’

Funding for the program comes from a $3 per ton surcharge on trash disposed at solid waste facilities, Martin said. Funds are distributed this year based on municipalities' success in recycling in 2010.

Municipalities receive 60 percent of the money the fund generates to help them enhance recycling outreach and compliance efforts, Martin said. The balance is awarded to county solid-waste management and household hazardous-waste collection programs, county and state promotional efforts, and recycling research, according to Martin.

New Jersey became the first state to require statewide recycling in 1987 with passage of the Statewide Mandatory Source Separation and Recycling Act, Martin said. Municipal Solid Waste, collected from households and small commercial establishments, include paper, corrugated paper, glass, metal containers and plastics.

For a statewide news release on recycling grants, visit http://www.nj.gov/dep.  For statewide recycling information and statistics, visit http://www.nj.gov/dep/dshw/recycling.