County of Monmouth

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
July 27, 2009

Funding available for local recycling improvements
$500,000 set aside for grant program to help municipalities  

FREEHOLD – The Board of Chosen Freeholders has authorized the Monmouth County Solid Waste Advisory Council to implement the Municipal Recycling Service Improvement Grant Program, which provides funding to local municipalities for expanded recycling programs.

The resolution authorizing the grants comes on the heels of the updated Monmouth County District Solid Waste Management Plan, which the Board of Freeholders adopted on March 12. The plan requires municipalities to improve local recycling and recycling facilities.

“It is one thing to mandate that our municipalities do a better job collecting recyclables,” Freeholder Deputy Director John D’Amico said. “Providing financial assistance to help them get the job done is critically important. Increased recycling means less garbage at the county’s Reclamation Center in Tinton Falls, which will extend the life of the landfill to the benefit of everyone.”

Monmouth County had proposed using a portion of its state Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) solid waste and recycling grant monies to help municipalities make the necessary improvements to their individual recycling programs, and the DEP approved.

“The Solid Waste Advisory Council (SWAC) spent considerable time and effort to develop application procedures, eligibility and evaluation criteria that would satisfy the DEP’s reporting and accounting requirements,” Freeholder Lillian G. Burry said. “I am pleased this grant money is being made available to our municipalities, many of which are struggling as all of us are in this economy.”

In order to comply with the county’s new Solid Waste Management Plan, municipalities were  required to revise their local recycling ordinances, improve compliance with statutory requirements,  provide better publicity and enforcement, upgrade their recycling collection and drop-off areas for additional materials, and better serve the small businesses in their towns.

This Municipal Recycling Service Improvement Grants Program is designed to have broad applicability. If the funds requested by qualified applications exceed the amount of available funds, the grants may be distributed on a proportionate basis. Anticipated awards are expected to range from a few hundred to $20,000 or more, depending on the project and population served.

“The grant program is for improvements to existing programs and facilities with the goal of increasing the amount of materials recycled and removed from the waste stream,” said Larry Zaayenga, the county’s Solid Waste Coordinator.  “The program is not intended to fund basic recycling efforts that should already be in place pursuant to earlier state and county requirements, nor is it to be used for existing staffing or operational requirements.”

Application procedures include:

  • A letter of intent describing the project must be sent to the county, which will review it to make sure it meets the eligibility requirements and send it to SWAC for review.
  • The SWAC will determine which municipalities will be asked to submit an application.
  • After receipt of the final applications, the SWAC will evaluate and rank all municipal applications to determine which projects will be funded, and the amount of the grant award.

A full explanation of application procedures, eligibility and evaluation criteria can be found under the Monmouth County Planning Board on the county’s Web site at www.visitmonmouth.com.

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