CLEAN COMMUNITIES PROGRAM
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.
• $4 million is placed in the State Recycling fund and then disbursed to municipalities in the form of recycling tonnage grants.
• $300,000 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 a 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.
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 caused 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.
INTERLAKEN’S ROLE
The Borough of Interlaken supports the Clean Communities Act and has an appointed Clean Community Coordinator who seeks out volunteers each year to assist with various Clean-Up Days. In conjunction the Interlaken Public Works Department also orchestrates many town wide clean-ups, with priority in the areas around the lake side which can not be easily accessed by volunteers. Interlaken is also assisted by various other volunteer groups from time to time such as The Friends of the Deal Lake.
The Borough of Interlaken encourages volunteers to participate in the Clean-Up Days scheduled throughout the year. Participation in the Clean-Up Day program enables Interlaken to apply for grant funding each year. The funding is used, but not limited to, the purchase of equipment to be used for picking up litter and debris, the purchase of litter receptacles, signs for storm drains, and much more.
For anyone interested in participating in a Clean Up Day, please contact Borough Hall who will obtain your contact information to provide to the Clean Community Coordinator. The Clean Community Coordinator will contact everyone on the volunteer list and then schedule a Clean-Up Day on a date that is mutually agreeable.
All Clean Ups are done in Interlaken Borough and last for approximately one to three hours which makes it a very easy and convenient way to give back to your community.
Residents who wish to volunteer may feel free to bring along friends or other family members to help us out. Remember, litter is everyone’s responsibility. It’s a matter of community pride!
HINTS FOR EASY CLEAN-UP
• Use gloves provided for protection
• Wear bright colored clothing
• Wear long sleeve shirts and long pants to protect from briars and ticks
• Tie hair back
• Use the buddy system
• Leave unknown or dangerous items where they are
• When bags are full, tie closed and place them in piles along the roadside
• Put bulky items alongside bags
• Call the Public Works Department prior to the Clean Up so that they can provide bags, gloves, etc…
• Call the Borough Hall after a Clean Up to report how many bags were filled and duration of the Clean-Up
• Please bring back gloves, extra unused bags, and any other material used for the Clean Up.
THE BOROUGH OF INTERLAKEN THANKS
YOU FOR YOUR HELP IN THIS MOST VITAL COMMUNITY EFFORT
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.
• $4 million is placed in the State Recycling fund and then disbursed to municipalities in the form of recycling tonnage grants.
• $300,000 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 a 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.
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 caused 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.
INTERLAKEN’S ROLE
The Borough of Interlaken supports the Clean Communities Act and has an appointed Clean Community Coordinator who seeks out volunteers each year to assist with various Clean-Up Days. In conjunction the Interlaken Public Works Department also orchestrates many town wide clean-ups, with priority in the areas around the lake side which can not be easily accessed by volunteers. Interlaken is also assisted by various other volunteer groups from time to time such as The Friends of the Deal Lake.
The Borough of Interlaken encourages volunteers to participate in the Clean-Up Days scheduled throughout the year. Participation in the Clean-Up Day program enables Interlaken to apply for grant funding each year. The funding is used, but not limited to, the purchase of equipment to be used for picking up litter and debris, the purchase of litter receptacles, signs for storm drains, and much more.
For anyone interested in participating in a Clean Up Day, please contact Borough Hall who will obtain your contact information to provide to the Clean Community Coordinator. The Clean Community Coordinator will contact everyone on the volunteer list and then schedule a Clean-Up Day on a date that is mutually agreeable.
All Clean Ups are done in Interlaken Borough and last for approximately one to three hours which makes it a very easy and convenient way to give back to your community.
Residents who wish to volunteer may feel free to bring along friends or other family members to help us out. Remember, litter is everyone’s responsibility. It’s a matter of community pride!
HINTS FOR EASY CLEAN-UP
• Use gloves provided for protection
• Wear bright colored clothing
• Wear long sleeve shirts and long pants to protect from briars and ticks
• Tie hair back
• Use the buddy system
• Leave unknown or dangerous items where they are
• When bags are full, tie closed and place them in piles along the roadside
• Put bulky items alongside bags
• Call the Public Works Department prior to the Clean Up so that they can provide bags, gloves, etc…
• Call the Borough Hall after a Clean Up to report how many bags were filled and duration of the Clean-Up
• Please bring back gloves, extra unused bags, and any other material used for the Clean Up.
THE BOROUGH OF INTERLAKEN THANKS
YOU FOR YOUR HELP IN THIS MOST VITAL COMMUNITY EFFORT