County to award recycling grants
The Ocean County Board of Freeholders will distribute $124,000 in recycling minigrants to 16 municipalities to fund upgrades to recycling centers and to promote recycling through educational programs.

"I cannot emphasize enough the importance of recycling in this county," said Freeholder James F. Lacey, who serves as liaison to the program. "The cooperation of our residents and our municipalities helps to make recycling a success. Ocean County wants to assist in making recycling convenient and cost-effective."

Now entering its eighth year, the minigrant program has resulted in a host of upgrades to recycling centers throughout Ocean County, according to a press release. In addition, towns use the grants, which to date have totaled $1 million, to fund educational programs and to raise awareness about the importance of recycling.

"Recycling helps to make a great environmental and economical difference in Ocean County," said Freeholder Director Joseph H. Vicari. "It's all about participation. The greater the participation from our towns and residents, the greater the benefits that are reaped from recycling."

Since the beginning of the program, 87 proposals were funded, resulting in new recycling centers in southern New Jersey.

In addition, the proposals approved by the county included funding for significant improvements to existing recycling centers, including Lakewood.

"This money has been used to provide safety upgrades at some facilities and additional storage at others," Lacey said. "When a recycling center is convenient and provides our residents with a host of services and programs like drop-off areas for used paint, mixed papers and the ability to pick up compost, then we have taken trash and have made it into a treasure."

The local recipients of the 2008 recycling mini grants are: Lakewood, $8,134, for five roll-off containers; and Plumsted, $2,500, for education.

Funding for the grants comes from the county's Recycling Revenue Sharing Program and the state Solid Waste Service Tax. The grants are matching grants, with the municipalities required to provide a 50 percent match.

Grant applications are reviewed by a subcommittee of the Ocean County Solid Waste Advisory Council consisting of Theresa Lettman, James Boekholt Jr. and Suzanne Plesnarski