Hopatcong Gets $27K to Fund Cleanup Efforts

Hopatcong will receive $27,030.46 to fund borough cleanup efforts, the state Department of Environmental Protection said Friday.

The state dispersed $16 million in Clean Communities grants to municipalities and counties. Newark received the most aid at $322,906.

"Cleaning up litter protects our natural resources, improves our quality of life and builds a strong sense of pride in our communities," DEP Commissioner Bob Martin said. “With these grants, our municipalities and counties will be able to carry out important programs that remove litter and graffiti from our neighborhoods and highways, making our communities better places to live and work."

The DEP awarded $13.86 million to 559 eligible municipalities. Seven municipalities are not eligible because they have fewer than 200 housing units. An additional $1.73 million was awarded to all 21 counties. Of that money, Sussex County received $81,657.94.

"This grant program is a perfect example of state, local and nonprofit partnerships working together to maximize the use of our resources to address environmental issues,” said Jane Kozinski, Assistant Commissioner for Environmental Management. “Equally important, schools, community groups, local governments and local businesses participate in the cleanups funded by these grants, boosting community spirit and civic pride."

The Clean Communities grants—funded by a legislated user-fee on manufacturers, wholesalers and distributors that produce litter-generating products—are dispersed based on the number of housing units and miles of municipally owned roadways within each municipality. Disbursements to counties are based on the number of miles of roads each county owns.

Borough administrator Robert Elia wasn't immediately available for comment Tuesday.