Ocean City Receives State Clean Community Grant

Ocean City, NJ -- Ocean City has received a $109,075.74 Clean Communities grant from the state to help conduct litter cleanup efforts, Gov. Chris Christie said on Thursday.

It is part of a total of $23.7 million in grants for municipalities and counties across the state.

"Each New Jersey county is receiving Clean Communities money to help beautify their communities and protect natural resources," New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection Commissioner Bob Martin said. "Keeping our communities clean is just one way to improve the quality of life and build pride in our municipalities statewide."

NJDEP awarded more than $21.1 million to eligible municipalities, and an additional $2.6 million to all 21 counties. Clean Communities grants to municipalities and counties in 2015 totaled $20.8 million.

Funding for grants comes from a legislated user-fee on manufacturers, wholesalers and distributors that make products that generate litter.

Municipalities receive grants based on the number of homes and miles of municipally owned roadways within each municipality.

"Simple initiatives such as litter control go a long way to making our communities healthier, stronger, and more sustainable," Assistant Commissioner for Site Remediation and Waste Management Mark Pedersen said. "This year's increase in Clean Communities grants will allow New Jersey to continue fostering environmental stewardship at the local level as means to a more sustainable future."

Some of the activities funded by the 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.

"We are thrilled that funding for communities has increased this year,” New Jersey Clean Communities Council Executive Director Sandy Huber said. "Municipalities and counties will use it wisely to pay for volunteer and paid cleanups, badly needed equipment purchases, enforcement activities, and education. We are grateful for funding that helps keep New Jersey clean."

For a complete list of municipal and county grant awards, visit: http://www.njclean.org.

The attached image is a Patch file photo