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New Jersey Clean Communities
Adopt A Beach
Sponsored by the
New Jersey Clean Communities Council, Inc.
And the
New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection
Adopt-A-Beach is a comprehensive, statewide, volunteer program developed by the New Jersey Clean Communities Council and the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection to clean and maintain beaches, bays, rivers and all waterways through network of municipalities, counties, community organizations, businesses and individuals. Our mission is to clean waterways in an ongoing effort to protect these natural resources and foster the volunteer stewardship of public lands; to clean and maintain roadways because street litter often ends up in the water.
We are asking municipalities and counties to organize at least one volunteer cleanup of a beach, bay, river, lake, creek or other waterway every year; encourage volunteers to adopt waterways; and assist with the collection of data during cleanups. We are asking coordinators to notify the Clean Communities Council when cleanups are scheduled. Additionally, the Clean Communities Council sponsors two cleanups each year, one in the spring—Clean Water Challenge-- and one in the fall – International Coastal Cleanup. We encourage towns to provide beaches or waterfronts to clean in conjunction with these two cleanups; and we encourage volunteers to participate. While we host these two cleanups each year, we also encourage volunteers to schedule cleanups any time during the year. To officially adopt a section of beach or waterfront, volunteers must negotiate an agreement with the municipality that “owns” the section of beach or waterfront.
Business, community organizations, schools and individuals who would like to clean or adopt beaches should contact the Clean Communities Council should register online. Contact the Clean Communities Council at 609-989-5900 or njccc@njclean.org for more information.
Background
New Jersey Clean Communities is the state’s only comprehensive litter abatement program. The program originated with the passage of the Clean Communities Act in 1986. The Act created a funding source for litter abatement activities. The fund generates over $18 million every year. Grants are disbursed to 559 eligible municipalities and 21 counties. Municipalities are required to sponsor at least one volunteer cleanup of public lands every grant year. The Clean Communities Council provides technical support to municipalities and counties, collects statistical reports that track the progress and expenditures of local programs, and implements a media campaign to remind people not to litter.
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