NJ Clean Communities Program

Introduction and Index

(The contents of this page and its links are available on a CD, free of charge.

Contact the Clean Communities Council for more information.)

New Jersey Clean Communities is a statewide litter-abatement program created by the passage of the Clean Communities Act. The program is managed by the (New Jersey) Department of Environmental Protection, Department of Treasury, and Clean Communities Council. It’s supported by local governments, businesses, community organizations, schools and individuals who work together to keep New Jersey clean.

The Clean Communities Act, passed first in 1986 and later in 2002, establishes a funding mechanism for the program by placing a user-fee on manufacturers, wholesalers and distributors who may produce litter-generating products. The user-fee, collected by the Department of Treasury and disbursed by the Department of Environment Protection, generates approximately $14 million each year.

In 2008 and years prior, $4 million was placed in the State Recycling Fund and then disbursed to municipalities in the form of recycling tonnage grants. Because of the passage of the Recycling Enhancement Act in 2008, this will no longer occur.
$375,000 is disbursed to a non profit (currently the Clean Communities Council) for the implementation of statewide education related to litter-abatement.
Of the balance, 80 percent goes to 559 municipalities, 10 percent goes to 21 counties, and 10 percent goes to the Division of Parks and Forestry located in the Department of Environmental Protection.

New Jersey Clean Communities at the local level involves a three-fold attack on litter: cleanup, enforcement and education.

Tackling the Litter Problem

What is litter? Litter is solid waste that’s out of place. It’s the kind of trash found on highways, lakefronts, parks and school grounds. Litter takes many forms: paper, plastics, metal cans, cigarette butts, glass, food packaging, tires and graffiti.

Where does it come from? There are seven sources of litter: pedestrians, motorists, overflowing household garbage, construction sites and uncovered trucks. Litter is often blown by the wind until it is trapped somewhere, as along a fence.

Why do people litter? People tend to litter when they think someone else will clean up, when an area is already littered, and when they do not feel a sense of ownership or community pride.

Why is litter a problem? Even small amounts of litter are unsightly, unhealthy and dangerous. Litter causes blighted landscapes resulting in an increase in taxes and a decrease in tourism and industry; loss of civic pride and morale; and a negative public image. Litter can also cause disease in people and animals, fires, and accidents, especially on roadways.

How are we solving the problem? The majority of the Clean Communities Program Fund is allocated to local governments so it is incumbent upon those agencies to carry out effective litter abatement programs. Those programs should include the volunteer cleanup of public lands, enforcement of anti-litter laws, and education of children and adults.

Municipalities and counties accepting grant funds should -

Designate a Clean Communities coordinator
Organize volunteer cleanups of public properties
Adopt and enforce anti-littering ordinances
Develop a public information and education program
Recycle recyclable litter

Municipalities and counties accepting grant funds may-

Purchase equipment to be used for picking up litter and debris
Purchase litter receptacles and recycling bins
Purchase anti-litter signs
Purchase labels for storm drains
Purchase supplies to remove graffiti
Encourage businesses, community organizations and residents to “adopt” public property and keep it clean
Organize and publicize cleanup days
Sponsor contests in the schools
Host awards programs
Send press releases or purchase ads in newspapers
Participate in workshops, conferences and awards programs offered by the Clean Communities Council

Municipalities and counties accepting grant funds are required by the 2002 Clean Communities Act to submit statistical reports each year to the Clean Communities Council. The reports may be e-mailed to njclean@comcast.net, faxed to 609-989-9066 or mailed to the Clean Communities Council, 479 West State Street, Trenton, New Jersey 08618. The deadline for the submission of statistical reports is January 15 of the next calendar year. The deadline for the expenditures of funds established by the Department of Environmental Protection in 2006 is June 30 of the next calendar year.

Remember to involve businesses, community organizations, schools and residents in programs and projects developed to reduce litter. Litter is everyone’s responsibility. It’s a matter of community pride!

Index to this CD

This informational disk is provided free, courtesy of the New Jersey Clean Communities Council. You are encouraged to copy, borrow, and customize any and all documents on this CD for your Clean Communities Programs. Your feedback, comments and suggestions are always appreciated and valued. Please email your information to njclean@comcast.net.

This CD contains documents and graphics. Some of these documents contain links to other sites which can only be accessed with a connection to the internet.

The links to files below are provided in PDF format. In most cases, files are also available on the CD in Microsoft Word format to provide greater flexibility if you wish to customize a sample document for you community. If a file is available in Microsoft Word, there will be a second link (word) next to the first link.

You will need the most current, updated version of Adobe Acrobat Reader, available as a free download, to view the PDF documents on this CD.

right click on this icon and select Open Hyperlink to download Adobe Acrobat Reader http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep2.html

Disclaimer: The links and documents found on this CD are provided to help you find tools and information you may need to Make Clean Communities Work for You. These links do not represent an endorsement of the products or any commercial enterprise.

State Guidelines for Spending your Clean Communities Grant www.njclean.org (see Publications)

Clean Communities Statute (links to website) www.njclean.org (see Publications)

Clean Communities Council and Activities trustees activities

County Coordinators List www.njclean.org (see Contact Us)

CLEANUPS

1. Overview

Press Release Tips

Sample Press Release - Somerset (word)

Litter Pickup - Tales from the Trenches

Safety Rules NEW!

2. Minigrants

¨ Sample Applications