Holmdel Receives a $33K Clean Communities Grant

The Christie Administration has announced the award of nearly $16 million in Clean Communities grants to help municipalities and counties fund litter cleanup efforts that help beautify New Jersey’s communities and roadsides.

Holmdel Township has been awarded a $32,999.99, which is consistent with prior years' awards. According to Deputy Township Clerk Barbara Kovalesky, the money will be spent on the Adopt-A-Road Program, Adopt-A-Beach Program (which can be used for any kind of waterway), a recycling scholarship for Holmdel High seniors, elementary school assemblies, parks supplies, compost facility and recycling promotional items.

In addition, Monmouth County will receive $93,942.21.

“Cleaning up litter protects our natural resources, improves our quality of life and builds a strong sense of pride in our communities,” said DEP Commissioner Bob Martin. “With these grants, our municipalities and counties will be able to carry out important programs that remove litter and graffiti from our neighborhoods and highways, making our communities better places to live and work.”

The 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 roadways within each municipality. Disbursements to counties are based on the number of miles of roads each county owns.

Among the activities funded by the grants are volunteer cleanups of public properties, adoption and enforcement of local anti-littering ordinances, beach cleanups, public information and education programs, purchases of equipment used to collect litter, purchases of litter receptacles and recycling bins, purchases of anti-litter signs, purchases of supplies to remove graffiti, and cleanups of stormwater systems that can disperse trash into streams, rivers and bays.

For further information about the new Adopt-a-Beach program, which requires a spring and fall sweep of a local waterway, contact Holmdel Township’s Recycling Coordinator at 732-946—2820, ext. 1212 or email bkovelesky@holmdeltownship-nj.com.