HAMILTON Towns throughout the 14th District will be receiving a total of nearly $350,000 in Clean Communities Grants from the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, according to Sen. Linda R. Greenstein, Assemblyman Wayne DeAngelo and Assemblyman Dan Benson.
”Litter and garbage on our public lands can be a health hazard for residents of our communities as well as dangerous for wildlife and the environment,” said Sen. Greenstein, D-Plainsboro, and vice chairwoman of the Senate Environment and Energy Committee. “These grants will help towns eliminate unsightly litter and waste to keep our streets, parks and communities clean so that we may all enjoy them.”
”This is a quality of life issue for our residents,” said Assemblyman DeAngelo, D-Hamilton and vice chairman of the Assembly Telecommunications and Utilities Committee. “Not only is litter abatement important to preserving the shared spaces that we love in our communities, but failure to clean up litter could have negative effects on our property and home values.”
”With Earth Day, we are reminded that we must be responsible stewards of our environment,” said Assemblyman Benson, D-Hamilton. “People often treat our public spaces improperly, throwing fast food bags, cans and cigarettes out their car windows rather than waiting to throw them in the trash. Programs supported by these grants, such as the Adopt-A-Highway Program, are vital to keeping our streets clean for the enjoyment of all our residents.”
The grants are awarded annually to towns in order to assist with beautification projects such as litter cleanup, adopt-a-highway programs and graffiti removal on public lands such as streets and parks; school-based educational programs to promote clean communities; and litter abatement and enforcement.
Grant amounts are determined using a formula based on the town’s housing units and street miles.
The grants to municipalities and counties are made possible by the Clean Communities legislation, enacted in 2002, which Sen. Greenstein, then in the Assembly, cosponsored.
Among those receiving grants are East Windsor Township, $38,731.32; and Hightstown Borough, $7,397.69.
East Windsor Mayor Janice Mironov said, “Yes, East Windsor Township is to receive $38,731,32 from the 2012 New Jersey Clean Communities Grant. The New Jersey Legislature created the Clean Communities Act to provide grants to towns and counties for litter pickup and removal programs. The yearly funding results from a dedicated tax on litter-generating products at manufacturing, distribution and retail levels.”
She added, “East Windsor uses the funds to support township budgeted personnel and equipment geared to litter cleanup particularly for our parks. Additionally, some small portion of the funds are used to support community environmental programs and municipal cleanup efforts, for example, the popular township Recycling Days with document shredding services, Adopt-A-Spot whereby community youth groups maintain public properties, sponsorship of educational programs for district elementary schools and townshipwide cleanup days.”
She said, The Clean Communities grant funds are a valuable resource to support our budget and valuable community programs.”

