NJ Department of Environmental Protection Acting Commissioner Shawn LaTourette urged the public in a video message to switch to reusable shopping bags in advance of the state’s new law protecting New Jersey’s environment against certain single-use plastics. This law takes effect next year.
The nonprofit NJ Clean Communities Council, a longtime NJDEP partner that oversees the implementation of municipal and county litter abatement programs funded by Clean Communities grants, will also play an important role as the state implements the new bag law. The group has launched a Reusable Bag Education campaign, which urges consumers to use reusable bags when they shop.
$20.7 million in Clean Communities Grants
NJ DEP Acting Commissioner Shawn LaTourette announced the award of $20.7 million in grants to help municipalities and counties implement programs to clean up and reduce litter in communities across New Jersey. Over the years, the DEP has provided municipalities and counties hundreds of millions of dollars in Clean Communities grants to implement litter cleanup and abatement programs, including 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.
In the video, NJDEP Acting Commissioner LaTourette presents the grant to NJ Clean Communities Council’s Executive Director JoAnn Gemenden and Board President Linda Doherty. This year, the DEP has awarded $18.4 million in municipal grants and $2.3 million in county grants. The total of $20.7 million represents a $1.3 million increase from last year due to an increase in revenues. The program is funded by a legislated user-fee known as the Litter Tax on manufacturers, wholesalers and distributors that produce litter-generating products. Disbursements are based on housing units and miles of roadways within a municipality or county.
Municipalities receiving at least $100,000 this year are:Newark, $430,941; Jersey City, $397,992; Toms River; $223,521; Paterson, $192,797; Hamilton (Mercer), $189,554; Elizabeth, $177,438; Edison, $178,108; Woodbridge, $175,036; Brick, $169,773; Middletown, $153,512; Franklin (Somerset), $131,997; Cherry Hill, $150,990; Monroe (Middlesex), $94,060; Trenton, $142,013; Clifton, $138,044; Vineland, $133,385; Berkeley, $130,529; Camden, $126,314; Gloucester Township, $124,173; Old Bridge, 119,697; Lakewood, $119,795; Jackson, $114,806; Howell, $117,155; East Orange, $110,384; Parsippany-Troy Hills, $111,066; Manchester, $110,261; Egg Harbor Township, $104,183; and Bayonne, $107,049, Wayne, $107,384.
County grants were awarded as follows:Atlantic, $126,674; Bergen, $150,409; Burlington, $171,897; Camden, $134,898; Cape May, $71,946; Cumberland, $183,538; Essex, $72,938; Gloucester, $140,808; Hudson, $18,910; Hunterdon, $82,518; Mercer, $60,734; Middlesex, $107,081; Monmouth, $128,957; Morris, $97,181; Ocean, $209,457; Passaic, $83,782; Salem, $122,231; Somerset, $84,476; Sussex, $106,658; Union, $59,594; Warren, $88,998.
For a complete list of municipal and county grant awards, visit www.njclean.org.