Atlantic County has been granted $153,815 from the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) and the New Jersey Clean Communities Council (NJCCC) to keep local roadways, parks, schools, and other public spaces free of litter.
The funding supports the county’s efforts to reduce litter through initiatives like the Adopt-a-Road program led by the Atlantic County Utilities Authority (ACUA).
“Atlantic County appreciates this essential funding, which contributes to the beauty and well-being of our communities,” said Atlantic County Commissioner John Risley. “Through the efforts of local volunteers and the ACUA, Atlantic County’s Clean Communities Program serves as an exemplary model for the state.”
In the last year alone, Adopt-A-Road participants have removed more than 2,300 bags of waste from along 576 miles of Atlantic County roadway.
“This funding allows us to maintain and expand this successful program, providing cleanup supplies and mini grants to dedicated volunteers,” said ACUA President Matthew DeNafo.
The funding also supports ACUA’s annual Fall Litter Challenge, litter prevention education, large community cleanup initiatives, public waste bins, and a reusable bag donation program.
Together, these programs not only reduce visible litter but also help prevent debris from entering local waterways or harming wildlife.
The grant program, generated from taxes on litter-generating products and penalties for litter-related violations, is provided based on population, housing units, and miles of county owned roadways.
To learn more about the grant program, visit: https://dep.nj.gov/newsrel/26_0021/
To learn more about the Atlantic County Clean Communities Program, visit www.acua.com/adoptaroad.
