$53K Awarded To Long Valley In Statewide Effort To Reduce Litter

LONG VALLEY, NJ — The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection is bolstering statewide efforts to remove litter, beautify neighborhoods and improve water quality by awarding $21.4 million in Clean Communities grants this year.

Long Valley will be allocated $53,952 in funding for 2022, according to Commissioner Shawn M. LaTourette.

"The DEP is thrilled that we are able to distribute additional grant funds this year to help communities improve their local environments and improve quality of life by removing litter, including from roadways and around stormwater collection systems," LaTourette said.

The non-profit New Jersey Clean Communities Council oversees the program's reporting requirements. The number of housing units and the number of miles of municipally owned roadways are used to calculate disbursements.

Clean Communities grants fund activities such as volunteer litter cleanups, litter-related education, and cleanups of stormwater systems that can disperse trash into streams, rivers, and bays.

Other activities include volunteer cleanups of public properties, the adoption and enforcement of local anti-littering ordinances, public information and education programs, recycling bins and graffiti removal.

"Municipalities and counties are strongly encouraged to use these grants to organize volunteer cleanups, pay employees to pick up litter, purchase badly needed cleanup equipment and promote educational activities and enforcement," said JoAnn Gemenden, Executive Director of the New Jersey Clean Communities Council. "We are grateful for the funding that helps keep New Jersey litter-free."

"People tend to litter when an area is already littered, and when they lack a sense of ownership or community pride," the Department of Environmental Protection said.

Pedestrians, motorists, overflowing household garbage, construction sites and uncovered trucks all contribute to litter. Litter is frequently blown by the wind and becomes trapped somewhere, such as along a fence, in a ditch, or in a gully.

"These community-level efforts have far-reaching impacts across the state, from beautifying neighborhoods to improving water quality and enhancing wildlife habitats," LaTourette said.