ROBBINSVILLE: Communities awarded DEP grants

Christie administration announces clean communities grant awards

ROBBINSVILLE — The Christie administration last week announced the award of $18.3 million in Clean Communities grants to help municipalities and counties fund litter cleanup efforts that help beautify New Jersey’s communities and roadsides.
   Robbinsville Township will get $31,553.62, according to a state Department of Environmental Protection release.
   In addition, the boroughs of Allentown and Roosevelt received $4,000 each while Millstone, Upper Freehold and Plumsted received $35,675.75, $24,340.71 and $16,319.53, respectively.
   DEP Commissioner Bob Martin said the funds would be used for litter removal, enhancing the quality of life for residents in the various communities benefiting from the grants, particularly in the aftermath of Superstorm Sandy.
   In addition to the funds awarded to the individual communities, the counties of Mercer, Monmouth and Ocean received $53,662.17, $110,016.60 and $187,903.06, respectively.
   As established by law, the nonprofit Clean Communities Council oversees the reporting requirements for the program.
   The Clean Communities grants are funded by a legislated user-fee on manufacturers, wholesalers and distributors that produce litter-generating products. Disbursements to municipalities are based on the number of housing units and miles of municipally owned roads within each municipality. Disbursements to counties are based on the number of miles of roads each county owns.
   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 and public information and education programs.
   In addition, funds can be used to purchase litter collection equipment, litter receptacles, recycling bins, anti-litter signs and supplies to remove graffiti.