Montclair received a $75,230 grant earlier this month from the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection as part of the agency’s 2019 Clean Communities grant awards program. This year’s award is nearly $8,000 more than the 2018 grant to the Township. The Township’s grant is part of $21.5 million in annual Clean Communities grants the DEP provides to help municipalities and counties conduct litter cleanups that improve the quality of life in New Jersey's communities. The grants are used to clean up stormwater systems, public properties, enforce anti-littering ordinances, and other activities that promote clean, litter-free environments.
“In addition to being unsightly, litter can have detrimental impacts on water quality, wildlife and natural habitats,” DEP Commissioner Catherine R. McCabe said in a press release. “Clean Communities grants provide a vital source of funding for New Jersey’s municipalities and counties. They fund cleanups, many along roadsides and around stormwater collection systems, that will protect water quality and natural resources, improving the quality of life in our communities.”
The program is funded by a fee on manufacturers, wholesalers and distributors that produce litter-generating products.
"Municipalities and counties are strongly encouraged to use these grants to pay for volunteer and paid cleanups, badly-needed equipment purchases, enforcement activities and education," said Sandy Huber, Executive Director of New Jersey Clean Communities Council. "We are grateful for funding that helps keep New Jersey clean. We are proud to serve as an educational resource for communities, as we drive many of our campaigns to engage the younger generations to help mold positive, long-term behaviors toward discarding litter."
For a complete list of municipal and county grant awards, visit www.njclean.org.
