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County Sees Green … In More Ways Than One
Ocean Towns Reap Benefits Of Recycling "Mini-Grants"
OCEAN COUNTY - The Ocean County Board of Chosen Freeholders is getting ready to distribute $124,000 in recycling minigrants to 16 municipalities to fund upgrades to recycling centers and promote recycling efforts through educational programs.
"I cannot emphasize enough the importance of recycling in this county," said Freeholder James F. Lacey, who serves as liaison to the program. "The cooperation of our residents and our municipalities helps to make recycling a success.
"Ocean County wants to assist in making recycling convenient and cost effective," he added.
Now entering its eighth year, the county's "minigrant" program has resulted in a host of upgrades to recycling centers throughout the area. In addition, towns use the over $1 million in grant money to fund educational programs and to help raise awareness about the importance of recycling.
"Recycling helps to make a great environmental and economical difference in Ocean County," said Freeholder Director Joseph H. Vicari. "It's all about participation. The greater the participation from our towns and residents, the greater the benefits that are reaped from recycling."
Since the beginning of the program, 87 proposals have been funded, resulting in new recycling centers being constructed in Tuckerton, Beachwood, Little Egg Harbor Township, Berkeley Township, Ship Bottom and Island Heights.
"As a result of this year's grants, residents in Long Beach and Barnegat townships can enjoy using new recycling drop-off centers in their towns," Lacey said.
In addition, the proposals approved by the county included funding for significant improvements to existing recycling centers in Toms River, Brick, Lakewood and Lacey townships, Point Pleasant, Lakehurst and Seaside Heights.
"This money has been used to provide
safety upgrades at some facilities, and
additional storage at others," Lacey said. "When a recycling center is convenient and
provides our residents with a host of services and programs, like drop off areas for used paint, mixed papers and the ability to pickup compost, then we have taken trash, and have made it into a treasure."
The recipients of the 2008 recycling minigrants are: Long Beach Township, $15,000, for seven roll-off containers; Barnegat Township, $9,490, four roll-off containers and a sign; Beachwood, $27,000, paving of the recycling center and installing concrete under roll-off containers; Lakewood, $8,134, five roll-off containers; Little Egg Harbor Township, $6,140, construction of information booth at recycling center; Bay Head, $6,700, two roll-off containers; Island Heights, $8,100, two roll-off containers, fencing and lighting; and Point Pleasant, $2,600, education.
Also, Manchester Township, $5,000, education; Brick Township, $5,000 education; Plumsted Township, $2,500, education; Seaside Heights, $6,128, replacement fencing; Point Pleasant Beach, $9,394, hazardous materials building for recycling center, two roll-off containers; Toms River Township, $4,375, two roll-off containers; Lacey Township, $5,000, installation of concrete pads under roll-off containers and Berkeley Township, $3,575, two roll-off containers.
Funding for the grants comes from the county's Recycling Revenue Sharing Program and the state Solid Waste Service Tax. The grants are matching grants with the municipalities required to provide a 50 percent in matching funds.
Grant applications are reviewed by a subcommittee of the Ocean County Solid Waste Advisory Council consisting of Theresa Lettman, James Boekholt Jr., Suzanne Plesnarski and Angela Kacsur, and given approval by the SWAC before being presented to the Board of Freeholders.
"I want to extend my appreciation to our municipalities for their continuing interest in this program," Lacey said. "We urge our municipalities to continue to apply and seek this assistance in order to keep recycling programs new and innovative."
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