Somerset County to Receive More Than $350K in Recycling Grants

Somerset County municipalities will receive a total of $362,802.47 in grants from the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection to assist local recycling efforts, according to figures obtained from its website—and Bridgewater will be receiving the largest chunk of that money.

According to information provided by the DEP in a release, each individual grant is based on the recycling success local governments demonstrated in 2008.

"The total grant award is based on the total tonnage of recyclable materials collected and processed in the township from residences and commercial and industrial locations in 2008," said Chris Poulsen, director of health and human services for the township. "These tonnage totals are compiled by the township recycling coordinator and reported to the NJDEP in an annual recycling tonnage report."

Poulsen said Bridgewater is set to receive $76,754.83.

Somerset County municipalities are marked to receive the 16th largest sum of grant money of the 21 counties in the state. Bergen County's towns will receive the most at $1,676,647.08, while those in Salem County will receive the least at $101,766.65.

Of all the Somerset County municipalities, Bridgewater is slated to receive the most from the DEP at $76,754.83. Franklin is second at $52,292.79. The least amount will go to Far Hills ($797.06).

"Based on the 2008 reports, Bridgewater led all municipalities in Somerset County in the total reported recyclable tonnage and the subsequent grant award," Poulsen said.

The DEP’s release said the grant money is made available through the Recycling Enhancement Act. The grant program is funded by a $3 per ton surcharge on trash disposed at solid waste facilities. Municipal governments receive 60 percent of the money the fund generates. The balance is awarded to county solid-waste management and household hazardous-waste collection programs, county and state promotional efforts and recycling research.

DEP Commissioner Bob Martin said the department is providing $13 million in grants to assist municipalities and counties throughout the state.

“These grants are an investment in our future,” Martin said in the release. “Local governments will use this money to continue to build even stronger recycling programs as we all work to continue improving our recycling efforts. Recycling is a priority for the DEP. It is important for the environment by conserving landfills and resources, and it generates tens of thousands of jobs in industries that collect, process and reuse recycled materials.”

The municipalities receiving the five highest grant awards this year, according to the DEP, are: Jersey City (Hudson) $267,674; Vineland (Cumberland) $255,954; Newark (Essex) $232,709; Clifton (Passaic) $207,094; and North Bergen (Hudson) $172,539.

According to the DEP, New Jersey recycled more than 13 million tons of the 22.1 million tons of solid waste generated in 2008 for an overall recycling rate of 59.1 percent. That rate was 57.3 percent in 2007. In Morris County, the percentage was 57.8 percent in 2008. Cumberland County’s 72.6 percent recycling rate was tops in 2008. Nine counties had a greater rate than Morris County in 2008.

Poulsen said recycling is required by sate law and local ordinances. Bridgewater's Environmental Commission, he said, has played a role in local recycling programs, and encourages residents and businesses to recycle through materials it hands out about how to go about doing so.

The grant money from the NJDEP, Poulsen said, will be used for continued recycling programs.

"In accordance with NJDEP requirements, the grant funds must be utilized to support local recycling programs," he said. "The township will apply the grant toward the New Jersey mandatory local residential recyclable curbside collection program."

This program, Poulsen said is currently provided by the county at a cost of $23.85 per year per household.