Over $80K Given To Mendhams, Chesters, To Clean Up Litter

MENDHAM & CHESTER, NJ — Mendham Borough and Township, as well as Chester Borough and Township, were collectively given upwards of $80,000 to clean up litter across their neighborhoods.

The grant comes from the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, specifically the New Jersey Clean Communities Council, which divided up the $25.2 million to counties and eligible municipalities for “local litter removal programs that help keep trash out of the environment and beautify New Jersey’s communities.”

See the breakdown of distributed funds below:

• Chester Township: $34,320.99
• Chester Borough: $5,045.52
• Mendham Township: $26,932.36
• Mendham Borough: $13,892.97
• TOTAL: $80,191.84

“Nobody likes to see trash-filled roads, rivers, or parks,” said Acting DEP Commissioner Ed Potosnak. “By partnering with the Clean Communities Council to provide this critical funding, the DEP is ensuring that municipalities and counties can keep their communities healthy and clean without bearing the costs of these initiatives alone.”

According to the DEP, the grants will be used to educate the public about the environmental harms of littering, set up volunteer litter cleanups, acquire litter removal equipment, clear litter and debris from stormwater drains, remove graffiti, and support enforcement of local litter laws.

Morris County received $118,239, with other municipalities, including Morristown and Washington Township, getting varying amounts of the funds. Parsippany got the largest slice of the pie in Morris County, getting $133,975 to clean up its streets. It’s the only municipality in the county that received more than $100,000 from the initiative.

“The New Jersey Clean Communities Council is incredibly honored to continue our partnership with NJDEP to advance litter education and cleanup initiatives across the state,” said Council Executive Director JoAnn Gemenden. “Today marks the fourth anniversary of New Jersey’s single-use plastics law – a shining example of the state’s environmental leadership. Together, we’ve made great strides in drastically reducing single-use plastic bags from littering our roadways and waterways, serving as a national example of how smart state policy can directly combat litter. This year’s Clean Communities funding will continue to help local governments keep their communities cleaner, greener, and prouder.”

Click here to view a full list of grant recipients and see how much municipalities were awarded.